The FINANCIAL -- 28 Oct. 2007 -- NOTE: Badri Patarkatsishvili , aged 52, collapsed at Downside Manor, his
mansion in Leatherhead, Surrey, England on February 12, 2008. Net
worth: 12 Billion before death, assets frozen or confiscated by Georgian
Government.
Recent developments, including wave of protest rallies makes me think that the country is on the verge of a serious political crisis. Statements and actions of politicians, in the most cases, even further strains situation.
I hope everyone, first and foremost the authorities, fully understand the responsibility they have to prevent provocations that may trigger developments beyond the constitutional frames. This will be lose-lose situation, especially for the Georgian people.
I think today it is a responsibility of every person to help the country in order to find a solution to the existing situation.
Opposition’s scarce finances may become one of the reasons behind possibility of dangerous developments. Time is needed for everyone to fully acknowledge and understand what the society demands and based on this knowledge undertake certain steps.
As a result, I have decided to provide financial assistance to the National Council of Unified Public Movement [a body coordinating joint campaign of ten opposition parties] to help them secure management of protest rallies in a civilized manner.
I fully support demands outlined by [ten opposition parties] in their joint manifesto.
I believe that the developments will not go beyond the constitutional frames and the opposition will remain united and committed to principles outlined in the manifesto. I think this [manifesto] reflects demands of the Georgian people and I also share these [principles] as an ordinary citizen of this country.
337 million U.S. dollars for supporting Georgia's 300,000 unemployed
Patarkatsishvili, 52, told Imedi radio on December 18 - when he was still a presidential hopeful -- that he would be allocating 337 million U.S. dollars for supporting Georgia's 300,000 unemployed.
He also said he was ready to expend his personal money for buying up the entire harvest of grapes and citrus fruits next year.
He promised to cover the expenses of every household on gas and electricity (up to 100 kilowatt and 100 cubic meters) per month for 18 months and all expenses on water consumption, “until problems in this sphere are solved and real tariffs are set” (he had earlier promised to cut the tariffs down to “real” costs);
Grant 3,000 Lari (approximately $2,000) to families for their first child, 4,000 Lari for the second child, and 5,000 Lari for each child thereafter; and Pay unemployment benefits at an annual rate of 600 Lari per year to each unemployed person for the duration of 18 months.
On December 11 Patarkatsishvili ’s campaign staff in Tbilisi had announced that he plans to spend $1 billion of his own funds for social programs, such as subsidizing electricity and gas tariffs for consumers, if elected president.
Statement from Badri Patarkatsishvili Concerning His “Planned Assasination”
Distributed by Business Wire, Sun Dec 23, 2007
"Today, on December 23, the Sunday Times of London published a story exposing a plot to assassinate me. I appeal to the authorities of Georgia to start an immediate investigation into this matter and hold those behind the plot accountable for their actions. If the authorities fail to respond to this urgent appeal and do not take appropriate steps, they will be held responsible for that."
Patarkatsishvili death threatens UK Russia ties
UK, 13 Feb 2008
“The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili threatens a new crisis of diplomatic relations with Russia, already at their lowest ebb since the Cold War after the murder in London of Alexander Litvinenko”.
TV Ownership
Imedi TV was established by the late Badri Patarkatsishvili in 2001. Company's minority shares were sold to American NewsCorp in 2006. NewsCorp was trying to buy Imedi TV completely but the deal was never completed. Imedi TV was raided by police in 2008 and later confiscated.
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