UPDATE: The connection to the UAE candidate alleged in this article has not been confirmed based on the latest developments as of May 14,2025:
Mikheil Ninua positioned his sister as the Consul General of Georgia to Italy. Italy does not yet have an ambassador to Georgia, but it was expected to have Ilia Giorgadze to become the first Georgian ambassador. Giogadze took over the post of zurab Pololkashvili in 2018 as the Georgian ambassador to Spain. He moved to Spain from Romania, where he led the Georgian interests as the ambassador.
Ilia Giorgadze may have been involved together with Zurab in giving Víctor de Aldama, the alleged mastermind in the high-profile Koldo criminal case in Spain the title of an Honorary Consul for the Republic of Georgia. Instead of Italy, he returned to Georgia recently.
For the first time Zurab last week turned to the media in saying, he had nothing to do with Mr. Aldama’s business dealing, also denying his involvement in any oil business.
The evidence, the whisper coming from within UN-Tourism at the same time is becoming louder by the minute.
Ilia Giorgadze daughter Masha works for UN-Tourism remotely from Georgia, apparently hired by the former director for Europe for the World Tourism Organization, Italian Alessandra Prianteem.
After Zurab took office in 2018, and after a controversial election he repositoned UN-Tourism and hired 6 members from his home country Georgia to have his countrymen and friends serve in his cabinet.
Mikheil Ninua was in charge of opening the regional UNWTO office in Riyadh in 2021, which an unsuspected Saudi Arabia paid millions for.
At the opening ceremony in Riyadh on May 26, 2021, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was joined by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, and Her Highness Princess Haifa Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Strategy and Investment, to officially inaugurate the office. The event was also attended by Tourism Ministers from across the Middle East and other global regions, as well as leaders from the private sector.
In the last three years there had been little activities in that Saudi office, because it is alledged that Mikheil Ninua was too busy opening bank accounts in the Kingdom for foreign businessmen and also for Zurab Pololikashvili father, possibly linking to the alledged oil business activities. This has been disclosed to eTN by a known and credible source by executives close to Zurab.
According to the source, by the end of July 2024, Niunua went back to Georgia to take charge of an oil business. His family had already returned a year earlier. In Dubai, he became close to FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and introduced him to his friend Zurab Pololikashvili.
Mr. Sulayem was appointed as the UN Tourism’s Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the category of ‘Sport’ in September 2024.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s substantial contributions to sustainability and the fast-growing sector of sport tourism have been recognised with his appointment as UN Tourism’s Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the category of ‘Sport’, UN-Tourism posted in a press release.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring and mobility organisations.
Founded in 1904, with headquarters in Paris and Geneva, the FIA is a non-profit organisation. It brings together 243 motoring and motor sport club members from 147 countries across five continents. Its Member Clubs represent millions of motorists, mobility users and motor sport professionals and volunteers.
His close ties to Dubai and Formula 1 suggest potential connections to the broader business and hospitality landscape of the city, such as Rotana Hotel .
Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, who is now the UAE’s candidate for UN Tourism Secretary-General in Dubai is a globally recognized leader in tourism, hospitality, and economic development. With over 16 years of strategic leadership, she has driven sustainable tourism, ethical governance, and inclusive growth across diverse regions. Her family owns the Rotana hotel group.
As a single woman in a Moslem society chances for her being elected are close to zero. Therefore considering Zurabs ties to Dubai the purpose for her candidacy may be to divide the vote in the first round, increasing chances of a re-election for Zurab, and at the same time promote the interests of Shaikah’s family business, Rotana Hotels.
Earlier this month Shaikha Nasser Al Nowai circulated a press release through PR Newswire, about her speach at a hotel conference in Germany. eTurboNews reached out to her PR agency to get an interview. After a first yes, an interview was declined, and eTN was warned not to come to some wrong conclusions.
It all looks so similar to the modus operandi of Zurab, who never allowed eTN to speak to him, and banned this news publication from attending all UNWTO events. It becomes more and more clear this lady must have been put in place by the Secretary General’s connection in the UAE, to divide votes, making it difficult for any candidate running against Zurab’s controversial third term, to win the upcoming election in one round.
The UNWTO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. Victor de Aldama who is involved in a globe spanning criminal investigation apparently was a close friend of Mikheil.
ETurboNews reported about insiders saying Zurab dreamed of becoming the UEFA President after Ceferin. He may also be seeking a high-paying position in Saudi Arabia, where the World Cup will take place in 2034.
