I'm not saying [corruption] doesn't happen; I'm saying that business doesn't see it on a wide scale... I'm not speaking because it hasn't affected me, and I'm interested in why business isn't speaking, - businessman and director of TV company "Imedi," Irakli Rukhadze, told journalists.

According to Rukhadze, it is surprising that the country has a good indicator in terms of the corruption index, yet even "opposition businessmen" do not talk about the corruption problem, and statements about the issue come only from the government side.

"I flew in today at 07:00 and couldn't figure out what's going on. The corruption index is measured; there is a large-scale measurement within the country where we have a very good indicator. Business doesn't really consider this a problem. We have a very good corruption indicator by which we are measured. We have an absolutely open business environment in the sense that we have many businessmen who are officially supporters of the opposition, and they also don't talk about corruption. I haven't heard it - only the government talks, and when only the government talks and we in business don't know what's going on, I first need to find out who it was…," Rukhadze stated.

He also answered the question of why business didn't know about corruption.

"Because it hasn't affected me, just as it apparently doesn't affect opposition business either. Have you heard? Give me an example. I'm not arguing with you; I'm just telling you," Rukhadze said.

In response to a journalist's remark that the owner of a 40% stake in one company writes that former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze asked him for a bribe during his tenure, Rukhadze assessed that this is very bad and he heard about it for the first time.

"It's terrible, very bad; I heard it for the first time, and it's very bad. Yes, it happens, but it's the only case - very bad, and now I heard it from you for the first time. I'm not saying it doesn't happen; I'm saying that business doesn't see it widely... Opposition business isn't complaining that we have corruption; the government says there is, and we need to find out what it is. Corruption has two sides - it's not just the taker; the giver is also corruption, so we need to find out who, where, what they were giving, what they were doing, and I will look into it. Of course, it's bad; it's terrible - what are we talking about? How can this be good? It hinders everything. I want to find out what kind of corruption we're dealing with. I'm interested in why business isn't speaking. I'm not speaking because it hasn't affected me, and why isn't business speaking?" Rukhadze stated.

He also answered a question regarding former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is accused of legalizing particularly large amounts of illegal income.

"Who did Garibashvili take money from? Can you tell me? That's what I want to find out. I don't know what this means [legalization of illegal income] - really, I don't know. I want to fully understand what's happening to us. What's happening is bad, but we need to investigate thoroughly first and then find out what's going on. Once again, business doesn't notice it like this. When you ask me as a prosecutor or a judge - how? As a businessman, I say I don't feel it, and that's what surprises me," Rukhadze stated.