Businessmen Bidzina Ivanishvili gave an interview to Ia Antadze. He shared his viewpoints concerning the events in the country, GHN reports.
- Mr Bidzina, for the public the steps undertaken by a government against you are obvious, what do you expect more?
- I think that they already did the main. I for me it is clear what methods will be used against me. One of my closest advisor's Irakli Gharibashvili's father-in-law is detained. He detained over illegal means. Allegedly, as if bearing arms illegally. By the same method is detained friend of my son, well known DJ who was alleged in drug abuse. The bank-car of the "Kartu Bank" was arrested. At morning my guards were forced to disarm. After this the Procurator's Office can demand to close the Kartu Bank. As well they can close the charity fund and consider the charity as bribery. My son's friend and his wife are under the close watch. They as well can arrest my relative who works in the bank. For one and half of the month they made full lustration of its actions.
- How do you estimate declaration that you can face a deportation?
- These authorities are not aware about the management at all. Here are some institutions the wages are paid, but the decision is taken only by a person in his office. Only three persons are willing to rule the country. This is impossible not only for the whole country but even for the small enterprise... Only is they could redistribute functions between ministries, then they would not commit many silly things. They even could not guess that concerning my wife's citizenship there is not any doubts. The EU citizens can stay without visas during a year. Its fault is that they lack of clever people in a team, who can properly analyze the situation. Nevertheless I cannot exclude that they can say: this person is dangerous and he must be deported. But this will not change anything; this only aggravates its situation. They wish to blame people to frighten them. They are using lying machinery against people. Anything can be expected from them. They even can shot me. That's why I am cautious. I do not like extremely it improper steps, and I am trying not to allow here the Gaddafisation. I am trying to return them to the frames of a law. I will try to lower the temperature, to not to allow the confrontation. I am afraid of the street actions. Nevertheless this is for advantage for them. We have to wait until elections.
- Are you ready for compromises, and will your experience in business being useful in politics?
- In fact there are many common things and very little differences. In my companies where 100000 peoples were working, I always took decisions together with 10-12 people. I was not allowing people who were not able to criticize me. Person cannot succeed if every decision he takes personally, like our government acts.
All those who succeed are demanding the opponents, for not to allow mistakes.
The liberalism and democracy are necessary for the success. Businessman who cannot rule democratically cannot listen to his opponents and establish a team, where the freedom of opinions will be will not reach serious achievements. When the default happens and the Bank appeared in a gravest situation, not of my employees live the job and all of them were working without wages during many month.
Let's to compare politics with businessman. What is a democracy? The people have to take decision. Businessman cannot succeed if he is not a liberal. From the other side the politician as well works for the own success, but tries to show himself in another light. But in fact this is not the case. In the aspiration to the success the politician is not different from businessman. Contrary he is even more aggressive. But politician comes and takes the ripe fruits. The clever politician can develop the government and to retain the chair. Untalented politician who cannot do this considers his chair as a priority. In fact the difference between politician and a businessman is not too high.
-They said that Mikaiill Saakashvili established an energetic government. The Georgian population for a while has hopes for this process. Afterwards the authorities became less popular and more intolerant. What do you think was a reason for such turn?
- I cannot agree that he established an energetic, and able to act government. Indeed some projects were implemented. The reform in Police was made and we already are not so shamed when in the past to the high schools only bribery was a passing grade. I do not wish to loose what was already done. But in the education system many mistakes were made. Unfortunately the police is not as well effective. It is used now for the frightening of people.
That's why I cannot agree that the energetic government was established. Endless reshuffles look like children's games. The really enthusiastic government would have quite different results. The machinery for collecting money to the budget was well and established very sucsessfully. Even I made contribution tothis affair. This was not done at the time of Shevardnadze's ruling. The governemtn's function is a collecting taxes. The most part of the money were distributing at the customs and tax systems and were not directed tot eh budget. Following this the government was not performing its function. This was effective for the first stage, when the budget got own shape. Some investments inflow was noticeable and constructions started. But big and serious investments were not performed. What happens now in the Ministry of Finances is absolutely unimaginable. The state budget and the Finance Ministry turned into the own pocket. Some concerts are organized and useless arrangements are made. Such things cannot happen for instance in France which indeed is a successful state.
-But what is the reason for the turning of the trust to the distrust?
- Indeed the trust was high and I was in euphoria. When the real face was showed the trust turned to distrust. When the houses were destroyed, when respectful people were disrespected. The euphoria was connected with the fact that the democratic government came to the power. I have the same mood.
Do you remember when people were not forgiven for the protest action? And after this illegal destructions of houses and expropriations followed. Step-by-step they showed its real face. I understand this later unfortunately. Probably the reason was that I was too busy. The only people who supplied me with information were Saakashvili himself or Merabishvili. In the government I did not knew anybody. However for the fist time I supported them with finances and with advice. I advised them to abolish the corruption and disorder, and I will help you as mush as I can. When people thought that the government was financed by Soros, in fact the sum was paid generally with my efforts.
On November 7 was disappointed really. I called to Misha, he said he will give me all the materials and will send Merabishvili with them. This time the events happen in the TV Company "Imedi". I was enraged. I called and demanded him to stop. He said: "You do not know what happens... it is something terrible.., the coup d'etat is underway. I will explain later". The very next day I arrived and asked what happen. But they had nothing to persuade me that something terrible happen. He assured me that I am very valuable for him, but I advised him to resign. I said he is unacceptable President for me. Next day he called me and said I will step down. Then I find out that the West was involved in this affair. I discovered that Tbilisers hate him.
