Nato Chkheizi’s Response to Tsulukiani’s Commission

At that time, Mr. Tsulukiani was the Minister of Justice, and—according to leaked information—he participated in the government’s violent proceedings against Omega in a manner commensurate with his status and influence, writes former Member of Parliament Nato Chkheidze on social media.

At a recent session of Ms. Tsulukiani’s parliamentary commission, a journalist showed up. He spoke about her time as a reporter for TV Iberia. He worked there briefly before the channel was shut down as a result of the unjust and violent actions of the government at the time.

He recounted the events of February 2004—how masked men, armed special forces stormed into their offices. Into the TV station, the newspaper, the agency, the printing press—because they had a media holding. They raided the factory too, fired weapons. “Everything they accused us of was a lie,” he said, recalling everything he saw and heard in those days.

And I’m watching, thinking: Was there no founder, no director, no manager of Iberia or the Omega Group? How is it that this entire grand Philharmonic-style commission is left relying solely on the account of one TV reporter? Asking him: “Tell us, how was Iberia shut down? How did they shoot? How did they leave all those people jobless?”

They summon an employee to ask about the 2004 closure of Iberia under the previous government’s brutality, because that version of the story is acceptable. But the exact same Iberia was shut down again in 2018—this time under the current ruling party, Georgian Dream—and they won’t touch that.

When the previous government tried to crush Omega with false charges and armed raids, shut down operations, and left hundreds jobless—now the commission members feign sympathy, shaking their heads as if in disbelief. But when the Georgian Dream government did the very same thing, starting in 2015, shutting down Omega entirely, leaving so many workers unemployed—suddenly, there’s no interest in that data.

Yes, they want to mention that the Georgian Dream Prosecutor’s Office investigated the 2004 closure and even found the then-Prosecutor General guilty. But that same Iberia, the victim of that injustice, was later denied any compensation by their own clan-controlled courts—and, of course, they don’t want to remember that part.

Meanwhile, the lawsuits for the 2018 closure of Iberia and Omega are now being heard in London’s High Court and the Stockholm arbitration. And what are the government’s lawyers saying? Along with those of Ivanishvili, Partskhaladze and the rest? Crying and complaining: “We’ve already spent nearly $2 million in London!” and “We’re spending $20 million in Stockholm!”

Oh, and by the way—Ms. Tsulukiani was Minister of Justice at the time and, according to backstage accounts, was directly involved in the violent process aimed at dismantling Omega.

In short, the commission chairwoman knows very well what her party did to a powerful company—especially how much of it was driven by her own personal vendetta. She listens to the TV reporter with performative empathy and emotional expression. But hearing from the founder or management? Why would she want that?

“Did any international actor respond to those events?” asked the former Ombudsman during the UNM era—now playing opposition leader. And the reporter? He didn’t recall anything like that.

But if they’d asked the founder or a senior manager, they would’ve gotten their answer.

“Yes,” they would’ve said. “Walter Schwimmer spoke out.” (The Secretary General of the Council of Europe.) “George Soros did, too…”

But you can’t expect a journalist to remember everything that happened 21 years ago. He didn’t remember—and couldn’t say.

I remember. The events then—and now.

And so, our commission members and their chairwoman keep repeating during these cherry-picked hearings:

“Oh dear, oh my, wow, how awful this is! How could this have happened? And they still want to return to power? Let the people hear and know who they really were!”

But here’s the thing: In 2004, when Omega was shut down by the UNM government, it was back up and running within a year.

In 2018, when Omega was shut down by Georgian Dream—it still hasn’t reopened.

Eventually the cases in London and Stockholm will conclude.

Then, this government will also be done.

And then—another parliamentary commission will come. With a new chair, new members… and once again, you’ll hear them exclaim:

“Oh dear, oh my, wow, how awful this is! How could this have happened under Georgian Dream? Let the people hear and know who really governed this country! Oh dear, oh my…”

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