However, ” Rosneft ” notes that the situation in the port is aggravated by circumstances of criminal and political nature that worries  the Russian company.

“One of the beneficiaries of the port’s nominal assets is  a former defense minister , who is in prison in Georgia . It’s not so simple. In principle, there is no vital need to enter Georgia . In order to enter the country, you need to have a positive relationship with the government , “- says Leontiev .

At the same time , “Rosneft” categorically denies its  interest in purchasing the Batumi Oil Terminal.

 It should be noted that “Rosneft” has a serious interest in mastering Armenian oil market ( its capacity is 360 thousand tons per year ). The company has increased Tuapse terminal capacity three times up to 12 million tons, respectively, needs the expansion of the  export area.

In December of last year, “Rosneft” President Igor Sechin visited Armenia where he met with President Serzh Sarkisian . In the frames of the visit to Armenia, Sechin  signed  an agreement regarding the creation of a joint high-tech rubber venture in which investment of  500 million USD will be made.

At the same time, “Rosneft ” founded a joint  company  “Rosneft Armenia ” along with the Armenian partner “Oil Techno” and signed the oil supply  contract, in addition,  an intensive examination has started in the neighboring country  to purchase assets on the fuel wholesale and retail networks.

The Turkish company OMV delivered a major part of oil products to Armenia from a plant located in Romania through the port of Poti. Armenia’s only way of oil supply passes through the Poti terminal – “Rosneft” cannot use the Azerbaijani territory due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict “.

”Channel Energy” is associated with the  name of a former Defense Minister David Kezerashvili.

According to the study  conducted by “International Transparency – Georgia”,   after the 2012 elections , David Iakobashvili  bought most of the assets owned by the former Defense Minister  David Kezerashvili,  including the oil operator at the Poti port “Channel Energy”.

 “After the October 2012 parliamentary elections, David Iakobashvili , Tbilisi -born  but lived in Russia businessman with  a Swedish passport , has bought several  advertising and energy companies which, according to our information , were controlled by a former Defense Minister David Kezerashvili ( through offshore-registered companies ) . As it turns out , Iakobashvili  has been  Kezerashvili’s business partner in several energy companies since 2011. However , due to the fact that companies are  owned by offshore holdings , very little was known about Iakobashvili in the society, his ties became public only after the change of  the government, “- the materials revealed by  ” Transparency International – Georgia ” read.