Transparency International Georgia has been closely following the enforcement of the Finance Ministry's new regulations, the enactment of which has caused serious problems to shippers as regards cargo clearance. It can be asserted at this point that the problem of these entrepreneurs remains unresolved.

Moreover, we learned that yesterday, April 11, the entrepreneurs Paata Enukidze and Adnan Akiyan received an offer of cooperation from Georgian Post. According to our information, Georgian Post offered the entrepreneurs to continue their activities under its umbrella, which would help them to elude the difficulties related to the customs clearance. Despite the fact that this particular case does not deal with the violation of norms of law, it is clear that Georgian Post considers itself in a privileged position. The new regulations enacted by the Finance Ministry also add to this. Besides, it is unclear why these small carriers will be able to import the same number and type of cargo through Georgian Post if they pose a "threat" and if the above regulations are meant to prevent smuggling goods into Georgia.

We have repeatedly noted that Georgian Post has acquired a dominant position as a result of the new regulations approved by the Finance Ministry. Its offer is the company's attempt to take advantage of the situation and assert the primacy in the market at the competitors’ expense.

It should also be noted that although the Finance Ministry has verbally committed itself to cooperate, our recommendations have so far been left out of consideration. This is why TI Georgia seeks the annulment through court action of the Ministry of Finance’s orders that imposed additional formal barriers on small and medium-sized transporters expressed in going through the customs clearance procedures, which resulted in Georgian Post’s privileged position. Our organization believes that the orders of the Finance Minister and Head of the Revenue Department contradict the Georgian legislation, due to which they should be abolished.