Berezovsky: ‘Imedi depends on the will of the people!’

 Exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky claims that Joseph Kay, who recently acquired the late Badri Patarkatsishvili’s shares of controversial television station Imedi, is a swindler. Berezovsky says that Joseph Kay, real name Ioseb Kakiashvili, made a deal with the Georgian government and is now seizing assets which belonged to Patarkatsishvili.

More than a month after its owner died, the popular Georgian TV station is changing hands, albeit, through clandestine business deals. While Kay claims power of attorney over Patarkatsishvili’s assets in accordance with the late tycoon’s will, Patarkatsishvili’s widow, Ina Gudavadze and Berezovsky assert that Kay has attained the estate illegally.

According to the businessman, Gudavadze’s lawyer sent a letter to the head of Georgian government addressing the fraudulent activities of Kay. The letter asked authorities to prevent future illegal acts by Kay. However, Berezovsky declares that the government hid this letter from the public, and do not intend to react to Kay’s criminal activities.

Boris Berezovsky gave an exclusive interview to The Georgian Times from London:

G.T.: Mr. Berezovsky, it is known that starting on April 1, Imedi will belong to Badri Patarkatsishvili’s family and will resume broadcasting. However, it will be led by Ioseb Kakiashvili. What can you say about this?

 Boris Berezovsky: I have already expressed my opinion in a statement. I don’t know whether you got this statement or not.

 G.T.: Unfortunately we did not get it.

B.B.: My position is quite simple. A gang of scammers is being led by Joseph Kay; actually, his name is Ioseb Kakiashvili.

G.T.: Giorgi Jaoshvili granted 70% of Imedi shares to Kakiashvili...

 B.B.: I have no information about Giorgi Jaoshvili. However, I know Joseph Kay. I also have information about Zeltser and Aleksandre Fishkin. This is a group of international frauds who falsify documents. Based on a secret agreement with Georgian authorities, they seized Imedi TV. They will broadcast what they wish. Certainly this is a crime! Georgian authorities are aware of the illegal action because of Lord Goldsmith- Ina Gudavadze’s lawyer; he sent a letter to the head of the government. However the letter was hidden from the media. It is obvious that Imedi must resume functioning, but the main thing is that TV Company must remain independent from authorities.

G.T.: Mr. Berezovsky, these people you’ve named appeared several hours after Badri Patarkatsishvili’s death. Do you think that these events could be connected to each other?

B.B.: These frauds appeared just two days after Badri Patarkatsishvili’s death. I saw them at Badri’s residential place. They talked with the widow and presented their false documents to her. I think the cause of death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is questionable. It is quite possible that the Georgian authorities plotted against Badri… this is a proved fact… and they made a deal with these frauds to suffocate I-Media and seize control over Imedi. They wish to seize Badri’s estate.

G.T.: Can you describe the last hours of Badri Patarkatsishvili’s life? How did he feel? You said that you remember him being a healthy man.

B.B.: All these things make me suspicious. Just 10 days before his death, Badri felt badly. However, he did not say that he felt any pain; he was just in a bad mood. I saw him five hours before his death. He said that he had heart problem. But, earlier, I had never seen him asking for medicines. He asked for heart medicine in my office after the meeting with Lord Goldsmith. I also attended this meeting. Certainly, I have suspicions around Badri’s death.

 G.T.: Ioseb Kakiashvili announced that Berezovsky and News Corp represent a single entity and he forced the corporation out of TV Imedi. What can you say about it?

B.B.: I don’t wish to comment on the illegal activities. If a man is a con-artist it is seen in each behavior. I can say however, that I have no relations with News Corp.

G.T.: Does Badri Patarkatsishvili’s family have any hope of regaining control of Imedi?

B.B.: I have already made a statement on this today. It depends on the will of the Georgian people! Badri said that Imedi belongs to the Georgian people and nobody can deprive them of it. Family members alone will not be able to regain the channel. However, their behavior is bold- I would emphasize the behavior of Gudavadze, Badri’s mother, Natela etc. They are brave people. The criminal authorities, who directly or indirectly killed Badri, oppose them. That’s why Imedi will never return to the people without the Georgian people’s will.