"Please wait for the information from the investigation, as it may be very interesting to the public. I'm only assuming at this point, but I believe it could be interesting," Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists regarding the entry of the investigative service of the Ministry of Finance into the American company Concentrix.
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Concentrix is the largest American business services company, which entered the Georgian market in 2021 with the support of the Invest in Georgia agency. The company's office is located in the plain, and Concentrix provides services to the world's largest brands in tourism, telecommunications, e-commerce, banking, and other sectors. It employs more than 250 000 people worldwide.
In addition to Concentrix, on the morning of October 24, employees of the investigative service of the Ministry of Finance searched the apartments of Georgian employees of the American non-governmental organization Atlantic Council, Eto Buziashvili and Sopo Gelava, from whom they seized laptops and phones. Buziashvili and Gelava investigate Russian disinformation. Additionally, Sopo Gelava's husband, Giorgi Noniashvili, is a member of the political council of the Federalists party.
“It was explained to me that this [search] is related to the company I am contracted to; however, I actually work for the Atlantic Council. This is an international organization based in America, and my work is directly related to disinformation and research on information operations and Russian interference. Therefore, at this moment, I find what is happening very dubious. I was just told that there is a financial investigation related to this company. In fact, this is an HR company contracted by the Atlantic Council," said Sopo Gelava to TV Pirvel.
The investigative service also searched the house of businessman Valeri Tkeshelashvili in Kutaisi. Tkeshelashvili stated that district inspectors first visited his family in the morning, followed by financial police officers, who informed him that they suspected his connection with call centers. "I haven't been in Georgia for the last 10 years; I arrived a few months ago and am currently at my parents' house. I had no contact with the call center. I'm mainly involved in education and information technology, working on procurement systems. I have never had anything to do with call centers. What they want to achieve is to scare people. Our family does not support Kotsebi (GD members), nor have we ever," said Valery Tkeshelashvili.
Later, the investigation service of the Ministry of Finance issued a statement indicating that, based on received operational information, investigative activities were conducted in three alleged so-called call centers.
"Following a judge's decision, the specified facilities were searched. According to the received information, the activities of the call centers are related to the same type of crime under investigation, and we are dealing with finances on a much larger scale. Additionally, some of the individuals employed at these facilities are linked to similar criminal call centers identified in previous periods," the investigative service stated, noting that information on the progress of the investigation will be periodically provided to the public.
