The former speaker of the parliament, right now the leader of Parliamentarian minority David Bakradze responds to the information about his bank accounts that was spread in internet.
GHN offers the statement of David Bakrazde without changes:
"I want to respond to the information about my bank accounts that was spread online. First of all is underline that my income or my accounts have no connection to the violation of the law or to benefit received through my position.
As for my relations with HSBC bank:
In 2002 November 12 the Embassy of Switzerland bought private house located on Krtsanisi street for the new building of the Embassy. The owner of the house was my father in law, Leri Metreveli. The purchase was formed defending all the legal procedures (with notarized act of buy and selling), there was paid all proper payments.
After the selling of the house Leri Metreveli expressed his will to leave the income from selling of the house for grandchildren, to using this sum when they will be adults. Accordingly this sum was kept by him as by legal owner. In 2009 Leri Metreveli asked my wife (his daughter) to open in reliable bank long term account to keep the sum before children would reach adult years.
HSBC was considered as such kind of bank that had office in Tbilisi and there was possibility to open account here.
It must be said that as the bank with high reputation HSBC checks legality of every sum. Accordingly was checked this sum too and was approved that it really was legal income received through selling of the house.
I want to underline following facts:
1. The sum is income of the person received through selling of the house. That's why it has no connection to state budget money;
2. The Embassy of Switzerland paid the sum-accordingly it is excluded any kind of doubts concerning the legality or origin of the sum that was paid;
3. The house is sold and the sum is received in 2002, accordingly it is excluded that it has connection to my active or previous political positions, because in 2002 I didn't have any kind of connection with politics.
Also I have to express my outrage concerning the fact that in Georgia still continues unpunished practice of listening, spying and publishing private information. The fact that private letter was opened and read in an uncertain way and was uploaded online proves it; the Georgian government uses widely and also stimulates chase of political opponents and their spying, also practice of publishing private and confidential information based on personal vengeance," states Bakradze.