Open letter of the main investor of Frego company

I am Giorgi Topchishvili, businessman, the main investor of the company Frego, which had been operating petrol stations network in Georgia.

The company Frego Ltd was founded in 2013 and it was the first Georgian company, which contributed to positive changes in monopolistic market of oil products in Georgia. Despite the fierce competition with the major oil trading companies, Frego has developed and the number of the petrol stations had reached 80. During last two years Frego has been selling to consumers Euro-6 standard diesel, while it was only from 2020 the relevant regulation was planned to come into force in Georgia.

In 2018 the oil products market has been affected by contraband activities, the market has been filled by so called VAT cost free oil products, which put Frego and other companies in very complicated economic situation. Frego has been forced to reorganize the company and halve the number of the petrol stations.

When the investigation on the contraband cargo commenced, though it happened with one-year delay, we did welcome this initiative. And when I personally was contacted by the investigator and asked to come to Georgia to provide the statement as the witness, I immediately arrived to Georgia. However, it was just a trap, apparently the case has been planned to be ‘arranged’ against me. I have been arrested and kept in jail for already 4 months. In fact, I was requested to admit the crime which I have not committed.

At the same time, all the bank accounts and properties of the company Frego have been arrested, which caused suspension of the company operations.

During all these 4 months many requests and applies were addressed to state authorities to allow the company to continue operations at least at the minimum level, however there was no intention to save the company, which has been providing jobs to many people and contributing to the state budget every year. During last five years Frego has paid about 40 mln Georgian lari to the state budget. The company initiated and accomplished many charitable and innovational projects.

And the company, which managed to overcome many business challenges, collapsed during few months due to unthoughtful actions of some state authorities.

Up to 400 people lost their jobs.

Frego completely stopped its existence, the company is now in bankruptcy condition.

It shall be noted also that despite the fact that I live abroad for many years, and I am the citizen of European Union’s country, I have made my main investments in Georgia, in my motherland.

It is with the regret I say that my biggest mistake was investing in the country, where the level of justice is still very low, where the authorities can hold the person in jail without grounds and destroy the person’s reputation and business without hesitation.

Both prosecutors and investigators are aware that for the businessman being kept in jail means business failure and the business reputation and dignity of such person is significantly impaired, that’s why they apply this method of affection on the person.

I do declare that I have never received any illegal benefit in connection with the case under investigation.

I request hereby that I be given the guarantee of the fair trial and prove my innocence being in decent and equal conditions with prosecution. I would like to apply to non-governmental organizations, diplomatic bodies, business associations to pay attention to this case and perform monitoring on proceedings in order we, altogether, prevent the injustice and oppose imprisonment of the innocent person.

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