Businessman Davit Bezhuashvili, founder of the Georgian Industrial Group (GIG), has warned that the arrest of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze could have serious consequences for Georgia’s economy and investment climate.
Speaking to BMG, Bezhuashvili expressed both personal and professional concern over the arrests, describing them as deeply disappointing and politically motivated.
“I have been friends with Mamuka and Badri for several decades now... I see their arrest as a result of their political position and principle,” he said.
Bezhuashvili believes that in cases involving reputable individuals such as Khazaradze and Japaridze, the court should have opted for a milder measure, such as a financial penalty.
He also underlined the broader economic implications, noting that Georgia’s business environment is highly sensitive to such events.
“Foreign investors see these developments, and Mamuka and Badri are internationally known. They have worked with numerous global companies and contributed significantly to Georgia. Their arrest will inevitably harm the country's investment potential and economy.”
Bezhuashvili concluded that even the perception of injustice can be damaging, regardless of the legal technicalities involved.
“The fact itself is already damaging. There is no longer any discernment as to what wrongdoing was committed,” he noted.
