Tbilisi City Court Fines Ivanishvili's Coalition and Movement for $1,5 mln

• Thursday, June 28, 17:22

Tbilisi. On Wednesday, June 27, Tbilisi City Court satisfied a suit of the Georgian Chamber of Control versus parties-members of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's political coalition Georgian Dream and the public movement with the same name, in connection with the case on illegal donation and fined them for amount of GEL2,4 mln  (approx. $1,5 mln), "Maestro" TV Company reports.

The suit of the Chamber of Control concerns illegal donations by the company "Management service" LLC to the movement Georgian Dream and parties - members of the coalition Georgian Dream - the Republican Party, National Forum, Our Georgia-Free Democrats, Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia, the Conservative Party and "Industry will Save Georgia". The company "Management Service" LLC carried our repair works at the expense of its assets for GEL476.6 thousand (approx. $292,4 thousand) in offices of the Georgian Dream coalition in different regions of Georgia.

"The court adjudged that Management Service's gratuitous service, rendered to political entities, was an illegal donation", the statement of the Chamber of Control reads.

According to Maestro's information, the abovementioned parties and the public movement Georgian Dream will have to pay the fine, taking into account the proportional principle, within seven days.     

The lawyers of the organizations, that have been adjudged as law violators, intend to appeal to the Tbilisi Court of Appeals, they have 48 hours, stipulated by the law, for it.

Earlier, the Chamber of Control explains that pursuant to the law "On Citizens' Political Unions", if norms of the law are violated in the process of receiving donation, a party must return the amount within five days. In case this requirement is not fulfilled, illegal assets are transferred to the state budget and a party bears responsibility according to the law.