Prime Minister of Georgia instructed the Minister of Finance of Georgia to engage the Financial Investigation Service (FIS) subordinated to the Ministry of Finance of Georgia (MOF) in the scrutiny of utility bills charged by Telmico LLC to power energy subscribers in view of their accuracy and legitimacy and to establish a Work Group with an engagement of the FIS to scrutinise the operation of the so-called Call Centres.
As Irakli Garibashvili noted, concerns of the population have been heard in the recent past on the issue and a decision was made to get a full picture by engaging the FIS of the MOF in the scrutiny to obtain the findings within a reasonable period of time. According to the Head of Government of Georgia, response will be strict if a deviation is found.
"I have been observing the information campaign in the recent past. I have been hearing the concerns and attitudes of the general public on the utility bills and questioned calculation. You may well be aware that many of our citizens have been receiving insufficiently reasoned responses from the utility company in the recent weeks. I am not sure whether they can be deemed as reasoned responses at all, as they have turned into an additional cause of speculation. I know that Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulation Commission (GNERC) has launched an inquiry into it and even made a statement on scrutinising the metering data of Telmico LLC and Telasi LLC. However, I made a decision to have a full picture and wish to request - or rather instruct - Lasha Khutsishvili to engage the FIS of the MOF in the scrutiny of the accuracy and legitimacy of utility bills charged by Telmico LLC to power energy subscribers. Findings are expected in a reasonable period of time. We should see in real terms whether there was any instance of injustice or violation - technical, mechanical or whatsoever. We need to know what we are dealing with in real terms. We need to give answers to our citizens in the most efficient manner. These responses should be reasoned. If no violation is found, it will be very good indeed. However, if there is a deviation, response will be strict from our side. So, Lasha, follow-up on the matter, please" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
The Head of Government of Georgia also noted that the so-called Call Centres have turned into an issue of permanent speculation from among certain politicians.
"Of course, I do not wish to make speculative statements on the matter, as everyone knows everything pretty well. Prosecution released several cases and results of few specific investigations. They include measures taken together with the Government - or rather General Prosecution - of the Federal Republic of Germany. All of that is clear, but as speculations are not ending, I wish to request Lasha to also establish a Work Group with an engagement of the FIS and other agencies to scrutinise the operation of the so-called Call Centres in Georgia. The Office of General Prosecutor already started an investigation of several dozens of people, however this issue needs to be once and for all regulated and campaigning speculations need to vanish. There are call centres of many different types in the country. We are not against them, however if their operation goes beyond legitimate grounds, response is required indeed. I do not want to list the names. They are former officials. To the best of my knowledge, information is readily available to the investigation on this. You may well be aware that several dozens of people are being prosecuted and results are obvious. Nevertheless, it is still required to regulate this issue once and for all, Speculations need to vanish, as they truly turned into a campaign of some sort. Perpetrators are blaming others for their wrongdoing. They are and were engaged in this malpractice and as the state has detected their offensive schemes, they started to take revenge and blame others - in this particular case, government officials - in this. Of course, it is absolutely unacceptable and it requires argumented response. That is why, I request Lasha to follow-up on this, please" concluded the Prime Minister of Finance.
