Georgian park likely to reopen
Plans are moving forward to reopen Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was famously seized by the authorities last November after just nine weeks of opening.
The Tbilisi City Government (TCG) has taken over the debt of Lynx Ltd, the park’s former owner led by deceased oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili, and a new operator has been appointed.
Rakeen, the real estate development arm of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, first expressed an interest in running the park this summer but is now believed to be serious about taking over now a number of financial matters have been resolved.
IE Park is one of several suppliers that have finally been paid as a result of the settlement with TCG and the company’s Andrea Munari says that although no maintenance has been carried out until now, the site remained guarded, and therefore it shouldn’t be too much trouble getting the rides operational again.
“The assistance offered by the Italian Embassy in particular has been most useful to us all,” says Munari. He also welcomes the collaboration offered by TCG leader Gigi Ugulava and Tbilisi deputy-mayor and vice-mayor, Mamuka Akvedyani and Silkan Sisauri.
Also no doubt relieved by the outcome, which has taken almost a year to achieve, will be other suppliers including Interlink and Sartori – not to mention the people of Tbilisi, who hopefully with have a fun park to play in again soon.
