Badri Patarkatsishvili will try to defuse tensions between Tbilisi and Batumi.

A group, which also includes MP Vano Chkhartishvili, co-founder of the United Georgian Bank, Temur Chkonia, the president of Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia, MP Gogi Topadze, a beer magnate and MP Niko Lekishvili, former chairman of the Taxpayers Union, met President Saakashvili late on April 14.

Badri Patarkatsishvili, who was elected the chairman of the Georgian Taxpayers Union - a business lobby group - on April 14, offered to mediate a standoff with Adjara authorities. “We have no right to stand aside," Patarkatsishvili said.

“Adjara is a barrel of gunpowder. Situation is really alarming and we are going there to defuse tensions,” Gogi Topadze told reporters after the talks with President Saakashvili.

“Both sides should make concessions. Only this will defuse tensions,” Vano Chkhartishvili said after the meeting with the President.