President Says Several MPs, Local Officials Are Protecting Fuel Smuggling

(Tbilisi, August 13, 2003, Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze called on law enforcers today to investigate the alleged involvement of several MPs and other officials in the smuggling of fuel into Georgia.

“State Security Minister [Valeri Khaburdzania] handed over to me a list of officials, who are protecting [companies that are illegally importing] fuel into Georgia.”

It should be noted that in exchange for this protection, these government officials are receiving illegal payment from these companies.

“Four or five MPs and several !
representatives of the regional officials are on the list. But I cannot make this list public, because we have no particular evidence so far,” Eduard Shevardnadze said at the government’s meeting on August 13.

Last week, the State Security Ministry, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry and Tax Inspection Office, launched a large-scale anti-smuggling operation. Law enforcers now are probing gas stations in both the capital city and regions.