Moscow, 18 August. Today at 5.50 a.m. (Moscow time) unknown persons gunshot and destroyed petticoats on the 69^th tower of the Imereti transmission line connecting Inguri hydroelectric plant with the Bolshaya Zestaphoni substation. It led to the power outage in Georgia. RAO "UES of Russia" provided assistance to Georgian power engineering specialists by securing energy supply via 220 kV Salkhino transmission line.

Some opposition parties in Georgia are trying to connect the current problems with the energy supply with RAO ‘UES of Russia’ coming to the Georgian energy market to gain certain political dividends on the eve of parliamentary elections. Besides, oppositionists make attempts to blame RAO UES for electricity hikes in Georgia.

RAO UES acquired 75% of AES Telasi electricity company based in Tbilisi that had been owned by AES for the last five years. However, the Russian Holding will officially start to run the acquired company not earlier than the 1^st of September 2003.

The Georgian Ministry of Justice officially approved the electricity tariffs hike on August 16, 2003. This hike was made according to the IMF’s demand and according to the criteria elaborated by the Georgian Commission on Energy Regulation. RAO UES have not taken any measures to lobby the rise of electricity tariffs in Georgia.

Currently, the joint Georgian and Russian venture AO GruzRosEnergo is repairing the 69^th tower of the Imereti transmission line. It is planned that the energy supply in Georgia will be restored towards the end of the day.