Georgian MP urges review of state contracts with companies over sanctions stance

A member of parliament from People's Power, Zurab Kadagidze, has criticised the Georgian beverage company Meama over what he described as its decision to cooperate with foreign sanctions rather than with Georgian media.

In a post on social media on Sunday, Kadagidze called on the state to urgently review its relations and procurement contracts with companies that, in his words, engage in political insinuations.

“It is quite interesting that Meama has chosen to cooperate with foreign sanctions rather than Georgian media,” he wrote.

“The logic is simple: if we call those who support sanctioning their own country ‘stateless’, then what should we call a company that uses these sanctions for internal political persecution and openly opposes national interests?”

Kadagidze argued that it was unacceptable for taxpayers’ money to finance businesses that, he said, encourage internal division and promote an external agenda.

“The state must act clearly and decisively - it should immediately review its relations and procurement with companies engaged in political insinuations,” he added.

Meama is a Georgian producer of hot and cold beverages, manufacturing capsule coffee, tea, specialty blends, coffee machines and retail systems. Founded in 2016, the company began industrial operations in 2019 and produces both European and American-format capsules.