Government Accuses Opposition of Energy Sabotage
(Tbilisi, September 4, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia, the spokesperson of the pro-governmental election bloc For New Georgia, accused leaders of the opposition parties United Democrats and National Movement of perpetrating the current energy crisis in the country.
Most of Georgia was blacked out on September 3 as a result of damage to the high power line Imereti in western Georgia. Energy Minister Mamuka Nikolaishvili blamed the power line damage on “sabotage”.
Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia!
said that the opposition is using energy crises to discredit the government on the eve of parliamentary elections.
“Recent sabotage in the energy sector has been ruled from the Headquarters of the United Democrats party. The advisor of the Electricity Wholesale Market [managed by the U.S. company PA Consulting], Zurab Nogaideli, is in alliance with these parties and the regular blackouts are taking place just under their instructions,” Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia said in a live broadcast on the Rustavi 2 TV channel.
On September 3, the Governor of the Kvemo Kartli region Levan Mamaladze, who represents the pro-government bloc, also accused the opposition parties of sabotage.
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