Zaza Okuashvili: “Events of 2004 were a difficult exam that we passed with flying colors”

პოლიტიკა - 16:23, 20 Mar, 2017

1923

I can’t really bring myself to like a journalist that has never tried to record an exclusive interview with Zaza Okuashvili. Why? Well, all things aside, he was the first target of the Rose Revolution government’s wrath. This is no overblown title – exactly three months after the revolution, on February 19 2004, following a decision by the government, masked Special Forces units forcibly occupied all offices and production facilities of Iberia TV and Omega Group and remained there for 11 months, leading to paralysis of said businesses. The debacle ended in Iberia TV getting its broadcasting license forcibly revoked. Eventually, however, Omega Group resumed its activity, reborn from metaphorical ashes. In 2016, the man whom the National Movement failed to break became a member of the Adjaran Supreme Council, representing the Patriots’ Alliance party. What did the “Rose Revolutionaries” really want from Zaza Okuashvili, what did they promise his European partners and threaten him with? How did an emergency room doctor become so successful in business? Is he a liberal or a conservative? Why did he return to politics? In the exclusive interview below Zaza Okuashvili, the founder of Omega Group, the best investor of 2016 and currently a member of the Adjarian Supreme Council will talk about things he has never talked about publicly before.

- Mr. Okuashvili, it’s been thirteen years since the February 2004 events. Looking back, what do you think the “Nationals” wanted from you? Couldn’t they have done without getting the Special Forces involved?

- Everything was purposefully set up to happen the way it did.

- What do you mean?

- Let’s be realistic: back then, just like now, Omega Group was a successful business, well-developed and diverse. On one hand, this fact was the source of envy, on the other – the reason for an attempt to humiliate the owner of this business.

- The National Movement could never boast being a unified organism, which has been proven by recent events. So who exactly envied you – Saakashvili himself or one of his people?

- Policy, administration and every single member of the National Movement was laced with envy. Therefore, they acted in accord and mutual understanding.

_ Before the Rose Revolution, you were a MP. Did you have some sort of hidden conflict with the “Nationals” within the institution for which they punished you?

- No, I did not. We were coworkers at the Parliament, as usual.

- Perhaps, but I remember that you did not support the Rose Revolution.

- You are correct.

- Maybe they never forgave you for that?

- Oh, I can answer that all right... Their personal attitudes might have been positive, but I knew their approach to certain issues and vehemently disagreed with it. This is why I did not support the Rose Revolution.

- Still, you were a member of the party that was at the revolution’s vanguard. I am talking about the Union of Traditionalists. Did Akaki Asatiani’s positions not match yours even back then?

- I disagree about the Union being at the vanguard of the revolution. Besides, Mr. Asatiani supported Omega Group and protested the events unfolding around us; there exists video proof of that.

- The “Rose Revolutionaries” started terrorising Omega Group in February 2004, while I asked you about the Rose Revolution itself, which took place in November 2003.

- The Rose Revolution was supported by almost the entirety of Georgia. In any case, the people hoped that it would bring about a better future. I, however, knew from the very start that it would not bring what the people hoped for.

- Still, I doubt you imagined becoming the first victim of the “Rose terror”.

- Truth be told, I was not surprised, although the extent of it definitely was beyond my imagination.

- Mr. Okuashvili, some people think that the “Nationals” attacked Omega Group to take control of Iberia TV, as it did not support the revolution.

- Iberia TV, as a media outlet, was in its right to express democratic opinions, which the “Nationals” did not like. They wanted free speech to only have one direction.

- Offices of Iberia TV and other companies comprising Omega Group were raided simultaneously. Weren’t there any signs of the impending attack?

- There were not only signs, but an offer made; an offer I refused.

- What were you offered, exactly?

- The offer concerned what happened next.

- And what happened next?

- First of all, they tried to suppress truthful activity and a successful business. Second, they wanted to make a public spectacle of it, thus forcing us to give up our shares. Such signs, as I have told you already, appeared before the Special Forces raid.

- Did they want you to give up your share only of the broadcasting company or the whole business?

- It all started with the broadcasting company, although full transparency existed even back then, just as it exists now.

- What do you mean?

- Let me explain: television is not a business that pays for itself. Therefore, we should view everything pertaining to Iberia TV and Omega Group as part of a common picture. Which is why the “Nationals” left nothing out, starting with the broadcasting company and ending with the smallest enterprise.

- You did give up the broadcasting license, though. Why?

- We did not reach an agreement and no shares were transferred. When they started talking about money, I replied that we will only pay the sum not to some fund, but directly to the state budget.

- So they wanted you to transfer a sum to Prosecutor’s Office’s vaunted fund?

- Prosecutor’s Office never had a fund. The fund in question belonged to the ruling party.

- So, they directly told you to contribute to the National Movement’s own fund?

- In any case, we did not know if some other fund existed. After all, we had to resume our work, so one year after the Special Forces raid we decided to transfer that artificially drawn up sum to the state budget.

- If I remember correctly, we are talking 23 million here, right?

- Yeah... By the way, they also stole products from our facilities and sold them.

- Do you mean cigarettes?

- Not only. They also stole hardware from the TV station and wrecked tech at the printing house and the cigarette factory. All this was done to strip Iberia TV of the broadcasting license, which they could not do without our consent.

- In total, how much damage did your companies sustain?

- The numbers are in tens of millions.

- After the change of government, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office started an investigation of the events that transpired following a lawsuit from Omega Group. While the Iberia TV debacle was singled out in a separate case that the City Court is dealing with, investigation of “Rose Revolutionaries’” terror against other companies continues. Mr. Okuashvili, are you seeking compensation or punishment of persons responsible? In general, do you have a hope for justice getting served?

- Let’s wait for the end of the investigation first; the court will decide who is owed what.

- Fair enough, let us wait, but given the background of many “Nationals” moving into the Georgian Dream camp and the people losing all hope for restoration of justice, why do you think that even the Iberia TV case alone will result in the court acknowledging Zurab Adeishvili and Giorgi Latsabidze as guilty?

- I am not going to point fingers, as the raids were managed by a unified group as well as the highest ranking governmental officials. As for Imedit TV, I believed even before the new government’s coming into power that time would come when the guilty would be revealed. This is necessary not only for Omega Group, but for development of the entire country.

- Hope dies last, as they say... Mr. Okuashvili, please do not mistake me for a flatterer, but the terror against you has failed to break you – despite losing the broadcasting license, you have managed to retain your business. By any chance, did the “Nationals” ever attempt your physical liquidation?

- By the way, later I was offered to have the license returned.

- When exactly?

- It was not a direct offer, more akin to a desire. However, I refused to go along with it and did not try to research its source. In short, I declined, because in the condition the broadcasting company was back then, it could either start praising and supporting the government or get closed again. Therefore, there was no point in getting the license back. As for the other part of your question, I suspected that some high-ranking government members might set something up for me during the time when I was in direct opposition to them; I never gave this idea much thought, though.

- Did the “Nationals” try to indirectly interfere with Omega Group activity after it was resumed?
- The system they were building interfered not only with my business, but with entire Georgia’s. They were building socialism, and as it is known, socialism hampers capitalism and prevents it from developing.

- Their socialism had a different name, though.

- Yes, it was called nationalism, but it was typical socialism – let’s unite all businesses and put them into the same control framework! I will not go into details here, but isn’t what I just described purely socialist purpose and dream? Few countries walk this path nowadays; unfortunately, some people grow arrogant with the power the people give them, go over the limit and embark on this journey. And we, the society, are responsible for keeping this in check.

- It’s hard to disagree with you. Naturally, the events unfolding around Omega Group were followed by protests, but had the society and the media been more active and united, maybe we could have avoided the nine years that followed, don’t you think?

- I agree. By the way, I said this before and will say it again – everything that happened was the problem of not only Omega Group, but also the society, the people and the future. The people have a lot of power, actually.

- How would you explain their passivity, then?

- Do you know what the heart of the matter is? The people were agitated and wanted change; prior to that, there was a frozen period. The people wanted positivity and did not want to think that the Rose Revolution was a negative rather than a positive.

- Despite you being an MP back then, the people didn’t really know you. Could that be the reason for their passivity?

- I doubt it and I wouldn’t say that the people didn’t know me. Iberia TV headquarters had a large courtyard and it was full of people in February, along with the nearby street. I remember Kako Asatiani advising us to move to the Philharmonic Theater instead. I agreed and in about two hours the theater was full, with people standing outside, to boot. Back then, Georgia’s population was five million; it is considerably lower at the moment, though – we’re down to three and a half million. I wouldn’t say that I was supported by the entire population, but filling the Philharmonic in two hours signifies lots of support. When we started protesting, some people urged us to resort to extreme measures; however, we had neither desire nor mood to stage a counter-revolution. We were merely protesting against the government’s unjust actions and behavior and our goals did not go beyond that.

- You had foreign partners and foreign backing, so to say, although the “Nationals” didn’t think twice of hitting them, either. Why?

- They didn’t think twice of hitting anyone, because they themselves were backed by their revolutionary ascent to power. They wanted the revolutionary tide to cover up all of their wrongdoing.

- Perhaps, but as far as I know you were on good terms with Western business and political circles. Didn’t you explain to them who the “Rose revolutionaries” were and what they were doing?

- The West wanted stasis that was gripping Georgia back then to disappear. After the revolution, everyone was saying that the changes have begun and that time will tell who is right and wrong. Besides, they were the government elected by the people, and the West could not intervene directly.

- And what are they saying in the West now, when many things previously hidden have become obvious?

- Our Western partners understood very well even back then what it was all about and tried to contact the president or the prime minister regarding the issue.

- What response did they get?

- An attempt was made to replace us with someone else.

- What do you mean?

- The government would simply tell them “Forget Okuashvili, we will give you a more successful partner”.

- Naturally, you would know who exactly they were planning to replace you with.

- With someone from their team.

- No names mentioned?

- The investigation is still ongoing, so I will not permit myself to divulge details. Otherwise, I would have definitely told you this person’s name.

- Mr. Okuashvili, I am fairly sure you know a lot more than you let on, but I think you are way too restrained with your words. Which is why I am changing the topic. You are a resuscitationist by profession, are you not?

- I am.

- Why did you decide to try your hand in business in late 90s, right after the Civil War, when the country was beset by numerous troubles?

- Because a new tide of life has swept in, so to say.

- Of course, but medicine and business are rather distant from each other. Should I start believing that business does not require special education and it’s all down to instinct and luck?

- [Smiles] Instinct is definitely needed, and I wouldn’t say that medical education hadn’t helped me at all. The operating room is not the only place where one has to make important decisions.

- So you’re saying business is like surgery...

- [Smiles again] My education and medical experience have definitely helped me in business. By the way, physicians were in serious need back then – whatever we got paid did not deserve to be called salary.

- How much did you get paid as a resuscionist, exactly?

- We were paid in coupons back then.

- When coupons were still a thing, people got paid in millions. So you were a millionaire before even going into business!

- [Laughs]

- Long story short, need has pushed you into business. What was your first enterprise like?

- At first I thought I’d be able to combine my medical work with baking bread. By the way, my father had a field day joking about how I wouldn’t have to change out of my white lab coat between jobs. My baking business gradually developed; this was followed by opening another enterprise, meaning that I no longer had time for medicine. Business, with all its activity and results, has overpowered my profession and forced me to slowly distance myself from it.

- Why did you drop your baking business if it was successful?

- I realized that I could achieve development and success in other fields as well. In general, if you go into business, choose the field with the largest scale.

- All things considered, do you think yourself lucky?

- Luck is necessary for any success.

- Did you ever miss medicine after going into business?

- [Laughs heartily] Definitely, especially after seeing how medicine has developed into a lucrative field as well! Still, there is no running from the fact that I had spent a lot of time and energy on that profession.

- Did you apply for a medical degree immediately upon completing college?

- No, I went to technical school first.

- Did you dream of being a physician since childhood or did you choose the profession because it was fashionable back then?

- In general, I like overcoming difficulties, and back then, getting accepted into medical or art school was the most difficult thing of all. However, art school required talent and calling that were not in my ballpark, so I applied for a medical degree. I was a good student in college, especially when it came to technical subjects; besides, my mother is a doctor and father was an engineer.

- Since you like overcoming difficulties, would you say that 2004 events have made you stronger?

- Of course. I think they were a difficult exam that I passed with flying colors!

- Along with business, you have decided to master another difficult field, which is politics. What pushed you towards becoming a politician?

- Being interested in the country’s success; I wanted to make steps towards our country’s and our people’s success and prosperity. I can’t say that I didn’t meddle in politics via my business before, pursuing the same interests.

- Explain.

- Due to success of my business, the state budget received lots of money as taxes – in general, we have contributed about a billion and a half.

- A billion and a half since the foundation of Omega Group?

- No, since a later period. But in general, the scale of Omega Group was large enough for it to have political meaning.

- If I understood correctly, you went into politics to create a better environment for business as a politician?

- Yes. Initially, business was my calling, so I was doing exactly that and did not want to appear in public much, which has yielded incorrect results.

- What do you mean by “incorrect results”?

- I won’t go into details, but a certain political group has tried to cast me in a terrible light in the public eye.

- You became a victim of black PR?

- Precisely so. This has led me to realize that I could not keep the distance and that it was necessary as a businessman to stand before the people and pursue my goals not only for the goals’ sake, but also for the people to see the man behind the action and be able to judge for themselves.

- What’s the worst thing you have heard about yourself?

- [Smiles] I doubt it’s worth mentioning now. I have decided to make an appearance before the people insted of being buried up to elbows in my business. By the way, as I’ve already said, this black PR was entirely political in origin.

- So, you’ve returned to politics after a few years of hiatus and are now a member of the Supreme Council of Adjara. Do you feel protected from black PR today?

- Maybe. I do not make daily appearances and there’s no demand for them to begin with – I am more of a man of action. I doubt I’ll become a target for black PR again though, as the people now have an opportunity to appreciate the work I do for them and the country.

- Why did you decide specifically on membership in Adjarian Autonomous Repblic’s Supreme Council?

- I like Adjara a lot and have done a lot of work there – at the time when central budget gave zero funding to Adjara, I was essentially one of the few businessmen who paid taxes not only to the central budget, but also to the Autonomous Republic’s budget, which was of great help to it.

- I see, but if I was Adjarian, I’d definitely ask what Zaza Okuashvili is going to do for my well-being?

- He will not spare himself in order to make sure the people have a better life.

- All right... Mr. Okuashvili, as a man who has experienced oppression and suffering at the hands of the “Nationals”, did the Georgian Dream party offer to chalk you up for their parliamentary list?

- I’ve never felt oppressed or suffering. I was always a fighter that opposed those nine years of horror.

- I understand, but the Patriots’ Alliance, whose party list got you into the Supreme Council, is a left-leaning party, while you do not look like a leftist to me.

- I was a member of “Traditionalists” before, and now I am with the “Patriots”. Traditionalist and patriotic ideas are quite close. Besides, I’ve known Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi for many years, and his offer turned out quite acceptable for me. It is not necessary to work with the leading party to do your thing. The opposition works as well.

- So you are not going to tell me if you are a left-winger, a right-winger or a centrist?

- It’s hard to draw a line somewhere precise...

- But why?

- When there’s a worker concerned, I stand by his side, which makes me a leftist. But when there are ownership rights that need protection, I will stand by the owner’s side as well. Do you know the beneficial trait our generation has? We grew up in an age of leftism, but today we live in a different age, meaning that we know both ideologies, and both have their good points. We might even take something from socialism that would help people. All things aside, under socialism discipline and approach to education were completely different. All this gives a person a certain kind of motivation. Being right-wing has its perks, like freedom and democracy. Therefore, in order for a country to move onwards, we need to use the best traits from these two ideologies.
- In the end, are you a liberal or a conservative? I can elaborate on this question if you’d like.

- Go ahead.

- Some people think that European influence is perverting and stripping us of what makes us Georgian. You are a frequent guest in Europe, so can you tell us whether this idea is grounded in reality?

- In general, globalism is a good thing and I welcome it. However, everyone has their responsibilities.

- I am not sure what exactly you are driving at.

- At the notion of us having a responsibility before our country. Despite having spent lots of time in the UK, I understand that blindly copying everything European does not work. We need to keep in mind our economical and geographical traditions and protect our future.
- From who?

- From all who challenge it. We have to manage protection of our interests while maintaining freedom and democracy, which means that we cannot exchange our future and political or economical success for something we have no idea about. By the way, in the UK they study even the simplest contracts in great detail. To put it shortly, European countries have a lot of experience protecting their interests, meaning that we need to be very nitpicky in our relations with them. We must also protect our interests, which is often not the case.

- Mr. Okuashvili, our conversation has gotten dragged out, but I still want to talk about your family. Do you feel like you and your wife complete each other?

- Of course. Family means a lot; it gives you great power and is, in fact, one of prerequisites for success. If husband and wife have different characters and vision, it is hard for any of them to achieve success in any business.
- Does this mean you are lucky for having met Mrs. Chkheidze?

- Yes, lucky indeed! We try to keep our family just and exemplary.

- By the way, did the name of Otar Chkheidze, your father-in-law and a famous writer, help you in achieving success?

- Otar Chkheidze never used his name even for his own family’s sake. I never tried to do so, either, although he did support me by making sure Nato was raised in a good family. It wouldn’t have been right for me to use his name anyway. In general, I am used to independence; that’s how my parents raised me and that’s how I carry myself.

- I almost forgot to ask: did doing business in Georgia become easier after the change of government?

- Today business is free of governmental pressure, of course, but all periods have their difficulties. This government has inherited problems from the previous one, and while they are being gradually solved, there is still work to do. If I, as member of the opposition, see that the government has omitted something, I will immediately point that out and cooperate to make sure we solve the problem together.

- In 2016, Omega Group was named investor of the year. You have also been awarded the Golden Wing, a journalistic award for contributing to the fight for freedom of media. Do you consider this compensation for the 2004 events.

- Such acknowledgement is pleasant, naturally. By the way, it was personally I who was named investor of the year, while Omega Group received a separate award. Being awarded the Golden Wing is especially important for me, as I am not on formal terms with free speech and I am happy to see journalists express appreciation for the bumpy road I’ve walked.

- If you were a journalist, what question would you ask Zaza Okuashvili?

- [Laughs] You got me on that one... It would take a lot of time to come up with questions like yours.

- I’ll take that as a compliment. By the way, are you happy with the way our meeting went?

- Yes, it was a rather interesting conversation.

- I think the same. Good luck to you, Mr. Okuashvili!