“I would like to emphasise that our decision to leave the region was tied to TeliaSonera’s business strategy and was in no way related specifically to the country of Georgia.” This is an extract from the letter sent by the CEO of TeliaSonera Johan Dennelid to the then-COMCOM Chairman and the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development on 16 November 2015.

It seems that Gia Jokhtaberidze, who owns a 54% stake in Magticom, either forgot about these circumstances, or deliberately lied to the Parliament on 10 July when he tied  the exit of TeliaSonera from the Georgian market to the activities of the current COMCOM Chairman Kakha Bekauri. Sections of the media reported Mr. Jokhtaberidze’s lies without stating the true reason for TeliaSonera’s exit and without quoting any of the several public statements made by the company at the time.

In reality, TeliaSonera left not only the Georgian market, but the region as a whole in 2015, publicly stating that this decision was conditioned by the company’s new business strategy for Europe.

When it was announced that TeliaSonera would be leaving the Eurasian region, including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Nepal, the then- COMCOM Chairman Vakhtang Abashidze and the Minister of the Economy and Sustainable Development wrote to the company expressing their disappointment about the company’s exit and asking for detailed explanation regarding this decision. In response, the CEO of TeliaSonera Johan Dennelind wrote a letter explaining the company’s decision and emphasising that he found the business environment in Georgia to be very transparent and competitive. Mr. Dennelind stated that he trusts in Georgia, and that the country presented a sustainable and profitable business opportunity for his company.

“Geocell significantly profited from our time in Georgia. Our development was aided by the country’s course and policies that were geared towards establishing a more transparent and competitive business environment. Georgia became more attractive for international business. Approximation of the country’s legislation with that of the European Union acted as a catalyst in this process,” states TeliaSonera’s letter, signed by Mr. Dennelind.