TBILISI, DFWatch – New questions are raised about the Saakashvili regime’s methods to secure election victory as two of his most trusted officials met in secrecy with a private insurance company.

Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri and Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava met with representatives of the insurance company Triumph at a restaurant. The meeting was closed to the media.

Maestro TV tried to interview some of the company’s representatives, who said they were not informed beforehand about what the meeting was about. Some told the reporter that the purpose was to inform them about the future plans of the insurance company.

Ugulava told Maestro after the meeting that they spoke about health care, and that the meeting was entirely legal and under the auspices of the party. He said they discussed problems in health care and ways to resolve them, and about future plans.

Ugulava said such types of meetings will continue with all parts of society. The Prime Minister did not make any comment.

Recently, there have been media reports about government officials holding closed meetings with teachers and other groups in the regions, where journalists are not allowed to attend. Sometimes only journalists from the national broadcasters Rustavi 2, Imedi and Public Broadcaster are allowed to cover these meetings.