Law Firm BLB: Sulkhan Papashvili has never had any connection with Russian business
In recent days, Georgian media outlets have been actively reporting about a list published on a Ukrainian online portal. This list refers to persons whom the authors believe should be sanctioned by the international community for supporting Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.
This list includes the name of a Georgian businessman, who is a Georgia citizen and our longtime client, Mr Sulkhan Papashvili.
Our law firm has taken immediate action to identify the instigators of this ill-intended disinformation, which has led to the publication and dissemination of wrongful allegations against our client. We reserve the right to take appropriate legal action against those who seek to taint our client’s reputation. We call on any interested individuals or legal persons to refrain from making any unsubstantiated and defamatory public statements, which harm Mr. Papashvili’s honor and professional reputation.
At this stage, we do not consider it prudent to directly address the falsehoods published about Mr. Sulkhan Papashvili as the statements do not provide even the most basic supporting material to evidentiate the claims either directly or indirectly and are clear examples of defamatory allegations containing numerous factual, as well as, logical errors.
It is in our authority to declare that such baseless, factually misleading and malicious portrayal of Mr. Sulkhan Papashvili is orchestrated and executed by business competitors, who have in bad faith managed to deceive and mislead the administrators of the website where the information was published.
We firmly declare that Mr Sulkhan Papashvili does not have, nor has ever had a relationship of any kind with Russian business entities or individuals, and he has never undertaken or engaged in any actions that would in any form support sanctioned private individuals or legal entities in alleviating or circumventing the international sanctions regime.
Since departing from civil service in 2003, Mr Sulkhan Papashvili has pursued a varied business career in the commercial sector for the past 20 years. During this time, he has never received financial resources from, nor engaged in transactions of any kind with business entities stemming from Russia. Mr Sulkhan Papashvili has moreover never participated in politics or has been affiliated with any political party.
Most importantly, negatively associating our client, Mr Sulkhan Papashvili, in any manner with the inhumane and deplorable ongoing events in Ukraine, serves to undermine and discredit internationally accepted war prevention measures, including the authority of the international sanctions regime. The international community’s efforts to end the illegal war must not be allowed to be subverted and used as a tool for reckless, self-serving interests aimed at trampling market competition and obtaining individual commercial gains.
Our law firm expresses its readiness to answer any questions related to Mr Sulkhan Papashvili’s business.
Managing Partner
BLB Law Firm
Kakha Sharabidze
