The latest meeting of the Investigative Committee for the investigation of crimes committed during the rule of the United National Movement was held in the Georgian Parliament.

The leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition and the Lelo party, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, were summoned to Parliament—a body whose legitimacy is not recognized by the fifth president, the opposition, and a significant portion of the public. The agenda included reviewing the case of the Magnat company.

"This is one of a series of cases related to mass and flagrant violations of private property rights during the Saakashvili regime. It is also an indicative case, as it occurred during the period when (David) Kezerashvili created his empire for oil sales using absolutely criminal methods—when owners of various companies were arrested, their businesses were confiscated, they were imprisoned, and a monopoly was established on the basis of this seized property. Before this process began, there were about 120 oil companies operating in Georgia, but within a few months, the number was reduced to just five, resulting in a monopoly—an outcome of government policy," said commission secretary Sozar Subari.

According to Subari, business structures close to the government, including TBC Bank, were actively involved in this scheme.

Ahead of the commission meeting, Mamuka Khazaradze wrote on Facebook that he did not intend to “participate in this circus”:

“First, summon Bidzina as the main sponsor of the National Movement—the man who continued financing the regime even after November 7. Interrogate him thoroughly about how many millions he invested in supporting the National Movement. After Bidzina, summon all those 'national judges' and prosecutors who, both then and now, grossly violate people's rights and have successfully transitioned into the ranks of Georgian Dream... I will also say this: despite the existence of a judiciary controlled by Bidzina and led by Murusidze, I have never evaded justice. In this case as well—go to court, and if there is something to discuss, we will discuss it there. This propaganda commission is frivolous and comical," Khazaradze wrote.

In response, Tea Tsulukiani stated:

“It is regrettable that Mamuka Khazaradze, in light of the great tragedy that Dzhemal Leonidze told us about, verbally insults all this by calling it a circus and declaring that he will not come... There is Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which states that failure to comply with the commission’s demand entails criminal liability. The punishments are quite severe, including up to a year of imprisonment, simply for refusing to appear and provide a document.”

Following this, businessman Dzhemal Leonidze spoke, arguing:

“The judge sentenced me to 15 years and 6 months. I was immediately amnestied, and the term was reduced to 10 years and 6 months. I spent one year in Gldani prison. I had to go through the so-called quarantine... Mr. Khazaradze is now supporting Mrs. Mzia Amaglobeli and sends ‘parcels’ to the prison, but he never brought me a single kilogram of apples, never sent 100 lari to my family... He was my partner—this is recorded in the memorandum,” Leonidze said.

Dzhemal Leonidze was the head and founder of Magnat LLC, which operated 42 gas stations and several fuel depots until 2009. That year, TBC Bank decided to reduce the company’s loan allocations, forcing its owner to transfer part of his shares to the bank and some third parties. However, Leonidze still retained a significant percentage of shares until, just a year later, he was accused of embezzling land plots. The court disregarded his lawyer’s objections and the apparent lack of evidence in the case. As a result, Leonidze lost both his company and nearly all of his property. He accused Mamuka Khazaradze, along with high-ranking officials from the previous government, of orchestrating the property confiscation.

The promise to establish a “Georgian Nuremberg” for representatives of the previous government was central to Georgian Dream’s election campaign. The party also pledged to ban the United National Movement and other forces potentially associated with it. In response, the opposition argues that Georgian Dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili are openly advocating for political repression and are intent on eliminating dissent in the country.