Transparency International Georgia continues to regularly monitor and collect alleged cases of high-level corruption that have been disclosed in recent years. Our goal is to create a periodically updated catalog of alleged cases of high-level corruption, which will allow us to track these violations and see the extent of high-level corruption.

The current situation vis-à-vis corruption in Georgia is characterized by impressively low levels of petty corruption combined with near total impunity for high-level corruption. Unfortunately, Georgia is experiencing the ultimate form of corruption - a “state capture”.^[1]

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), “the influence of the ruling party’s founder over key institutions meets the definition of state capture”.^[2] Furthermore, “the nature and scope of the cases of alleged high-level corruption and the increasing number of these cases point to an alarming conclusion that high-level corruption in Georgia is taking the form of “kleptocracy”, where officials systematically use political power to appropriate the country’s wealth and undermine all critical voices, including political opposition, media, and civil society.^[3]

The existence and severity of the problem of high-level corruption are indicated by the conclusions of the local civil society,^[4] international assessments,^[5] public opinion polls conducted in Georgia,^[6] and the growing number of alleged cases identified by investigative journalists and non-governmental organizations.

The bodies responsible for the repression of corruption offenses in Georgia (the Prosecutor's Office and the State Security Service) leave alleged cases of high-level corruption without an effective response. Particularly, if individuals with connections to the ruling party are involved in these cases. For example, the latest reports of the Prosecutor's Office and the State Security Service state that the highest-ranking officials detained for corruption charges by these agencies were a municipality mayor and a former governor. Even though according to Georgian legislation an investigator or prosecutor is obliged to initiate an investigation upon notification of the commission of a crime, alleged cases of corruption reported regularly by Transparency International Georgia are also left without a response.^[7]

According to international best practices, an effective fight against corruption crimes necessarily involves the initiation of an investigation on publicly reported cases of alleged high-level corruption or public accessibility of a justification for a decision not to open a criminal investigation.^[8] Contrary to the practice, the State Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office neither proactively publish information nor respond to FOI requests.

In order to effectively curb the challenge of high-level corruption, it is necessary to transfer the power of investigating corruption crimes of the State Security Service’s Anti-Corruption Agency and the Prosecutor's Office to an independent anti-corruption agency, which will be equipped with the appropriate resources, authority and a high degree of independence to impartially and thoroughly investigate high-level corruption cases.^[9]

Back in 2018, the European Parliament highlighted that “high-level elite corruption remains a serious issue for Georgia” and called on the Georgian Government to separate the Anti-Corruption Agency from the State Security Service and timely investigate high-level cases of corruption. In July 2022, the European Commission named the independence of the Anti-corruption agency, bringing together all key anti-corruption functions and “rigorously address high-level corruption cases” as one of the prerequisites for granting Georgia the status of an EU candidate country.^[10]

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Anti-Corruption Network (OECD/ACN) has called on the Government of Georgia “to remove anti-corruption investigative powers from the State Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office".^[11] The OECD/CAN report notes that “placement of an anti-corruption agency within the State Security Service is dubious”. Furthermore, the report also “raises an issue of concern with regard to concentrating both investigation and prosecution within the Prosecutor’s Office. Co-locating investigators and prosecutors can undermine the checks and balances on the exercise of power.”^[12]

Methodology

For the purposes of this list, a high-level official is considered to be a “politically active person” defined in accordance with Article 21 of the Law of Georgia^[13] on Facilitating the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism. Based on the international best practice and the OECD/ACN monitoring guide^[14] prosecutors of all levels (including members of the prosecutorial council), regional governors, or heads of regional administrations have been added to the definition of a high-level official. In addition, to reflect the extent of the spread of corruption cases at the level of high-level officials of the municipality, for this list, “high-level officials” are also considered the mayor, the chairman of the city assembly, and their deputies.

The present list includes cases of alleged corruption:

1. Where the high-level officials are involved,
2. Where an action containing signs of corruption is identified and for which disciplinary, administrative, or criminal liability is established by law,
3. The disseminated information on the case raises reasonable doubt about corruption misconduct, without conducting a comprehensive investigation.

If you think that a specific case needs to be added to this list, please, contact us using the contact information indicated on our website.

Alleged Cases of High-Level Corruption

Last update:

15 October, 2024

The list currently includes:

206 cases

 

Latest additions to the list:

2024

• 2 million GEL to the ruling party in 9 months and the benefits received in return

Transparency International Georgia found that between 2012 and 2024, companies linked to businessmen financing the ruling party in Adjara received over 556,090,031 GEL from state contracts and obtained construction permits for more than 3,000,000 square meters of land. For example, over the past 12 years, companies owned by Georgian Dream delegate Giorgi Chkonia have received more than 457 million GEL in state contracts, including nearly 300 million GEL through non-competitive processes, disqualification of competitors, and simplified procurement. The ruling party received over 1.5 million GEL in donations from Chkhonia and his associates.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 03.10.2024.

• Financial support of the ruling party in exchange for construction permits

From 2020 to 2024, the Georgian Dream received 965,000 GEL in donations from construction businessmen Zebur and Zurab Dumbadze and their business partners, with 230,000 GEL contributed in 2024 alone. In recent years, companies associated with the Dumbadze brothers have secured six construction permits, enabling the development of 75,456 square meters in Batumi.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 26.09.2024.

• How do the major winemakers, who are donors to Georgian Dream, benefit from the budget

According to a study by Transparency International Georgia, the primary players in Georgia's wine market are individuals affiliated with the ruling party, particularly Bidzina Ivanishvili. On the one hand, these companies receive tens of millions of GEL in subsidies from the state budget, while on the other hand, their owners are major donors to the ruling party. For example, from 2017 to 2023, wine-producing companies received 169 million GEL in funding from state agro projects, with 74 million GEL allocated to those companies whose owners and/or managers donated a total of 6.1 million GEL to Georgian Dream. Additionally, two companies owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili's brother, Aleksandre Ivanishvili, and MP Zaal Dugladze received a total subsidy of 11.5 million GEL from the state.

Source: Transparency International Georgia – 17.09.2024.

• Ruling party donor uses Batumi municipal property without authorization

Alexander Baghaturia, a businessman who donated 253,000 GEL to the Georgian Dream party, uses Batumi municipal property without permission. On September 1, 2021, Batumi City Hall granted the Baghaturia company a free, two-year usufruct agreement for an 8,339 square meter plot of land that includes an autodrome. Since September 1, 2023, the company has been operating a karting club in this area, conducting commercial activities illegally.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 06.09.2024.

• Alleged corruption in the Ministry of Health

Investigative journalists obtained electronic correspondence among high-ranking officials in the Ministry of IDPs, Health, Labour and Social Affairs of Georgia, revealing that some patients with severe diagnoses received state funding after petitions from influential individuals, including ministers, members of parliament, and clergy. For example, in 2019, Deputy Health Minister Giorgi Tsotskolauri received two files from Khatuna Chachava, head of the Referral Organization Department, in his official email. One of the files, titled “Requests” was subsequently forwarded to then-Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze. High-ranking officials of the Ministry do not confirm the authenticity of these correspondences.

Source: TV Pirveli - 28.09.2024.

• Prime minister utilizes a car valued at 1.2 million GEL

A journalistic investigation has revealed that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze uses a car valued at 400,000 euros (approximately 1.2 million GEL). The Special State Protection Service of Georgia, Anzor Chubinidze, confirmed the information. According to Chubinidze, the car is used for high-ranking foreign guests and, when necessary, for the Prime Minister.

Source: TV Pirveli - 28.09.2024.

• Tenders won by MP Irakli Zarkua’s brother-in-law

A journalistic investigation has uncovered that Aleksandre Amisulashvili, the brother-in-law of Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua, secured several million GEL in tenders for the construction and rehabilitation of kindergartens, but failed to complete the work within the required timeframe. The report indicates that after receiving part of the tender funds, Amisulashvili and his partners transferred ownership (gifted) of the company to other individuals.

Source: TV Pirveli - 14.09.2024.

• Employment scheme for party supporters in the regions

A journalistic investigation exposes the government’s scheme for employing the Georgian Dream party activists in the regions, including Kutaisi, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, and Gori. Investigative journalists uncovered the scheme by which ruling party activists are employed in various municipal legal entities, resulting in millions of GEL being spent from the budget to support these roles.

Source: Studio Monitor - 20.07.2024.

• How government N(N)LEs turned into “Employment Offices”

An ifact.ge investigation reveals instances of the government hiring individuals for fictitious positions in budget organizations across Imereti. The government artificially expands staffing and strengthens its electoral administrative resources at the expense of the budget. Investigative journalists have identified eight individuals employed by City Hall N(N)LEs who also serve on election commissions, raising concerns that these party-affiliated employees may follow party directives during elections.

Source: ifact.ge – 25.05.2024.

• How the Kindergarten Management Agency violated the law

A journalistic investigation reveals how the Kindergarten Management Agency of Tbilisi conducts tenders worth tens of millions of GEL. The investigation reveals that the agency concealed a crucial document that could have influenced the outcome of the tender, suggesting it was favoring a specific company, Kveba LLC, to secure the win.

Source: Radio Liberty - 29.03.2024.

 

• Public contracts awarded to a family member of a municipal official

Between 2019 and 2024, the son of Jemal Gogoladze, the acting director of Borjomi Amenities LLC, a municipal state-owned enterprise, received state contracts worth 800,568 GEL from Borjomi City Hall and its associated entities. Zurab Gogoladze received the entire amount (100%) through non-competitive tenders and direct procurements.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 04.09.2024.

• Alleged corruption in state procurements

From 2016 to 2024, companies associated with Akaki Aladashvili, a delegate on the Georgian Dream party list, and his business partner Sergo Shugarov, secured 40.7 million GEL in state procurement contracts. Of this, 93% came from simplified, non-competitive contracts or tenders that were won by disqualifying competitors. Aladashvili has served on the Tbilisi City Assembly since 2021 and has been the Vice-President of the Georgian Football Federation since 2016. Aladashvili and Shugharov donated a total of 100,000 GEL to the ruling party.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 30.08.2024.

•  State procurement contracts awarded to a donor of the ruling party in Borjomi

Between 2012 and 2024, Mshenebeli 2012 LLC, a company owned by Vakhtang Kapanadze, a donor to Georgian Dream, received over 15 million GEL in state procurement contracts. Notably, 72.1% of these funds were obtained through non-competitive tenders, direct procurements, and tenders where competitors were disqualified. During this period, Nodar Kapanadze, Vakhtang's son, held various positions within law enforcement agencies in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 08.08.2024.

• Unexplained wealth of the former Deputy Minister of Economy

The journalistic investigation revealed what appear to be unjustified and undeclared assets of Romeo Mikautadze, the now former Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. Among these assets are a luxury home in Madrid, Spain, and several real estate holdings in Georgia. Mikautadze’s declaration failed to fully disclose his income, expenses, and high-value movable assets, including his children’s education and living expenses in Europe. The investigation suggests possible corrupt practices, including the misuse of public office and influence trading.

Source: Studio Monitor - 06.04.2024.

•  The bill is likely tailored to Vano Chkhartishvili’s tobacco business

On April 17, 2024, the Parliament approved the draft law on its first reading, which simultaneously violates three international agreements and poses a significant risk to public health. The bill proposes halving the excise tax on tobacco raw materials, potentially resulting in an annual budget shortfall of up to 25 million GEL.

The investigation has revealed that the revised tax code disproportionately benefits JSC Tbilisi Tobacco, a company owned by Vano Chkhartishvili, a businessman with close ties to Bidzina Ivanishvili. Chkhartishvili was also featured in a secret recording released on September 17, 2018, which allegedly details a scheme for controlling the tobacco market in Georgia. The Prosecutor’s Office has yet to verify the authenticity of this recording.

Source: Studio Monitor - 18.05.2024; Transparency International Georgia - 26.09.2018.

• “Capture of Intellectual Property”

The journalistic investigation revealed that Lasha Natsvlishvili, the former Deputy Prosecutor General under Otar Partskhaladze and an alleged ideologue of the ruling party, oversees the proceedings against the Georgian Copyright Association (GCA). The investigation uncovered a plan to replace the GCA with the newly established Georgian Rightsholders Association (GERA, now IPOA), which has ties to Russia. It was later discovered that the Russian Authors' Society (RAO) intended to use the GERA/IPOA bank account to circumvent sanctions.

Source: Studio Monitor - 13.04.2024, Studio Monitori/ Radio Liberty - 17.06.2023.

• The government waived 5 million GEL in debt for businesses owned by an MP from the Georgian Dream party.

The journalistic investigation reveals that the Georgian government has forgiven several million GEL in debts owed by companies owned by Georgian Dream MP Goderdzi Chankseliani. Initially, Bevrili Group LLC and Grande Group LLC were required to pay over 6 million GEL to the state budget. However, this amount was later reduced to 610 thousand GEL through a government decree. Chankseliani claims he did not use his influence to secure this reduction.

Additionally, Chankseliani violated legal requirements by failing to transfer management rights of his business shares to another party, which is incompatible with his official duties.

Source: Radio Liberty - 08.03.2024.

• Benefits in exchange for a vote

In 2023, the Georgian Dream party achieved its goal of placing its favoured candidates on the High Council of Justice with support from the opposition. Independent MP Dilar Khabuliani, who voted in favor of the ruling party, saw immediate benefits: just two days after the vote, the government reversed the privatization terms for two plots of land Khabuliani was interested in and returned state property previously seized from his company for a nominal fee of 1 GEL.

Source: iFact - 22.04.2024.

• Anzor Chubinidze’s Fish Business

Per the journalistic investigation, Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special State Protection Service of Georgia, owns a fish business in Kakheti.  The investigation found that although some of the land associated with this business is officially registered under Giorgi Makharoblishvili, an employee of the Special State Protection Service, it is effectively owned by Chubinidze. In an interview, Chubinidze confirmed that he earns income from the venture and described Makharoblishvili as a trusted associate.

Source: TV Pirveli - 06.07.2024.

• Businesses and Properties of a senior State Security Service official

According to a journalistic investigation, Giorgi Ghambashidze, the deputy director of the General Inspection of the State Security Service, is involved in activities that breach legal standards and conflict with his official role. Ghambashidze owns businesses in the construction and finishing materials sectors. His company, B-M-C Gezi LLC, has not filed its financial statements since 2018, which is a legal violation. It is alleged that Ghambashidze is leveraging his position and influence to advance his business interests.

Source: TV Pirveli - 22.06.2024.

• Alleged corruption scheme involving officials from the Ministry of Justice

The journalistic investigation reveals that Archil Obgaidze, head of the Logistics and Labor Safety Service at the Ministry of Justice's LEPL National Agency for Public Registry, and his wife, Nutsa Kantidze, the Agency’s lawyer, are allegedly misusing their positions. They are reportedly involved in a scheme where agricultural land is reclassified under the guise of constructing schools, but instead, residential properties are built and sold. Vakhtang Bokhashvili, the deputy head of the LEPL National Agency for Public Registry, who is closely associated with these employees, may support this illicit scheme.

Source: TV Pirveli - 22.06.2024.

• Hydropower business of Garibashvili's brother-in-law

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed three government decrees that allocated 11 hectares of land in the Mashavera Valley to Future Energy LLC for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. The land was leased to the company for a 49-year term. Aleksandre Tamazashvili, a former Georgian Dream MP and the brother-in-law of Irakli Garibashvili, acquired shares in the company the day after the land transfer. The development of these hydroelectric facilities may threaten Nakalakari and the valley’s historic monuments. Notably, the agreement facilitating this construction was signed during Irakli Garibashvili’s tenure as Prime Minister.

Source: TV Pirveli - 15.06.2024.

• Unreported Assets of Kakha Kaladze

The journalistic investigation has uncovered that Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze holds a collection of watches worth several million GEL, which is not mentioned in his official asset declarations. Additionally, his declarations do not account for the high-value accessories owned by his wife.

Source: TV Pirveli - 27.07.2024.

• Alleged corruption case in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region

Alleged corruption signs were revealed in state procurement contracts awarded to several companies in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region engaged in infrastructure and road construction projects. These companies are linked to current or former public officials or are ruling party donors. For example, Akaki Kvitsiani, the brother of Baia Kvitsiani, an MP from Georgian Dream, owns a 25% share in Lider+ LLC. Since 2015, the company has been awarded state procurement contracts worth 37,232,754 GEL.

Source: Transparency International Georgia – 01.07.2024.

• Suspicious corrupt deals in Adjara

From 2021 to 2024, Esia Group LLC, a company linked to officials in Adjara, brothers Akaki, Roland, and Raul Beridze, received state procurements totalling 5,344,077 GEL. The company obtained this amount through subcontractor agreements, non-competitive tenders, or winning tenders after the disqualification of competitors.

Source: Transparency International Georgia – 14.06.2023, 19.03.2024.

• An alleged corruption case linked to the Mayor of Adigeni

Gocha Kimadze, the brother of the Mayor of Adigeni, is one of the five businessmen who founded the N(N)LE Adigeni Development Fund in collaboration with the Adigeni Mayor’s Office. Levan Kimadze has received 1,287,209 GEL from the municipal N(N)LEs of Adigeni through procurements in 2013-2023. The Mayor’s other brother, Jemal Kimadze, has been the director of the N(N)LE Adigeni Improvement and Cleaning Service for four years.

Source: Transparency International Georgia – 05.04.2024.

• Judge Giorgi Mikautadze’s allegedly unjustified property

The journalistic investigation revealed assets worth millions belonging to Giorgi Mikautadze, the deputy chairman of the Supreme Court. Mikautadze stated in his declaration that his mother gifted him $150,000 in 2022-2023. It was discovered that the reference presented by the judge, meant to confirm his mother’s income from a specific company, contradicts the official financial reports of that company.

Source: TV Pirveli – 09.03.2024, Transparency International Georgia – 02.04.2024.

• Police and courts serving the government’s interests against activists

The journalistic investigation shows a scheme of how the authorities use the police and the courts against activists. The report details five cases where the police arrested activists, neglecting their rights to freedom of expression. These arrests were based on false statements, and despite the presence of objective evidence proving their innocence, the court still deemed them guilty. During the consideration of these cases, judges Nino Shcherbakov and Koba Chagunava were appointed on probation. On November 3, 2023, the High Council of Justice granted both judges life tenure appointments.

Source: Studio Monitor – 22.02.2024; Netgazeti – 02.02.2024.

• Property of the Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi

According to his asset declaration, the Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi does not own a house. However, according to the journalistic investigation, Irakli Khmaladze resides in a fashionable penthouse in the upscale neighbourhood of Krtsanisi. The complex belongs to Noshrevan Namoradze, a businessman closely associated with the Georgian Dream. Namoradze began construction of Krtsanisi Villa Residence without permission in 2015, but after paying a fine, he secured the right to build multi-apartment houses. Since then, Namoradze has obtained several controversial permits from Tbilisi City Hall. According to the journalistic investigation, there are other irregularities in Khmaladze’s asset declaration.

Source: Studio Monitor – 02.03.2024.

• State property and funding related to Ucha Mamatsashvili’s brother-in-law

According to the investigative report, Ucha Mamatsashvili’s brother-in-law received 189,000 square meters of land for business from the state for just 60 Tetri under the government decree. Koka Kokolashvili’s company Blue Field LLC also received 250,000 GEL in state funding through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant the Future program. Mamatsashvili is the cousin of Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Source: TV Pirveli - 02.03.2024.

• An uncompetitive and unconditional auction won by Kakha Kaladze’s best man

Four historic buildings in Gudiashvili Square, rehabilitated using the budget of the Tbilisi Municipality, were later acquired through a non-competitive and unconditional auction by the business group of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s best man, Ivliane Tsulaia.

Source: Studio Monitor -  27.04.2024.

• Alleged corruption, the revolving door, and Russian interests in protected areas

The investigative journalism uncovered a suspected corruption scheme where state-leased protected areas were transferred to a company whose shareholders include Valerian Mchedlidze, former Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas (APA), and Mamuka Merkviladze, head of the Georgia section in Russia with known Russian ties.

Source: Mtis Ambebi - 30.03.2024.

• Judge Levan Murusidze’s undeclared and unjustified property

The journalistic investigation identified that Judge Levan Murusidze owns 170 hectares of land in Kakheti, just a few kilometres from Alazani Valley, registered under his relative, Tamta Mikanadze. Tamta Mikanadze owns a 120 square-meter apartment near the hippodrome, which, according to the investigation, was likely also purchased by Judge Levan Murusidze.

Source: Studio Monitor - 01.06.2024.

• The forests and estates of the Chair of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, acquired for 1 GEL

According to the journalistic investigation, the Chair of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili allegedly avoided paying a significant amount of tax to the budget. Papuashvili transferred 100,000 square meters of forest on the banks of the Alazani River in Kakheti from his cousin for just 1 GEL. According to the legislation, if the cousins had signed a gift agreement instead of a purchase for 1 GEL, Papuashvili, as the gift recipient, would have been liable for income tax, estimated at approximately 200,000 GEL based on the property market price.

Source: Mtis Ambebi - 28.04.2024.

• Former MP’s state procurements

Since 2011, former MP Sergo Khabuliani's company has been awarded GEL 306,909,196 in state procurements. The company won 68 tenders, 33 of which were uncontested, while in 16 cases, its success stemmed from the disqualification of competing participants.

Khabuliani and his family donated GEL 398,000 in favour of the ruling party.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 01.03.2024.

• Khobi City Hall's allegedly tailored tender

On January 17, 2024, Khobi City Hall issued a tender to restore roads in six distinct settlements, totalling GEL 10,818,151. The tender conditions set by Khobi City Hall restrict competition and are allegedly tailored to JSC Archeopolis, which is owned by the uncle of Senaki Mayor Vakhtang Gadelia. In January 2023, JSC Archeopolis effortlessly secured a comparable tender announced by Khobi City Hall, facing no competition.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 26.02.2024.

• Property owned by the incumbent CEC Chair

A journalistic investigation disclosed the real estate of CEC Chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili. It was found that his family owns several apartments in one of the most expensive districts of Tbilisi. Additionally, during his tenure as the CEC Chairman, he purchased lands in Bazaleti and Dusheti. Kalandarishvili has apartments registered in the name of his family members, which he claims belong to him. Kalandarishvili’s wife, Salome Chikviladze, is employed at Cartu Bank owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Source: TV Pirveli - 02.03.2024.

• Nepotism in the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The investigative story presents allegations of nepotism involving Teimuraz Mgebrishvili, Head of the Emergency Situations Management Service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mgebrishvili confirmed to a journalist that his close relative was employed in the same agency after he was appointed, but claimed that the relative was hired through a competition.

Mgebrishvili’s family members are also employed in the public sector. Specifically, his wife, Nana Peikrishvili, works at the Governmental Special Communications Agency, and his son works at the State Security Service as an investigator of particularly important cases.

Source: TV Pirveli - 10.02.2024.

• Allegedly unjustified property owned by the Director of the LEPL Land Transport Agency

The income and expenses reported in the asset declaration filled by the Director of the LEPL Land Transport Agency Levan Gamkrelidze do not match. In 2023, Levan Gamkrelidze purchased a property worth over one million GEL. Additionally, Gamkrelidze and his wife spent GEL 90,819 on repair materials, while reporting only GEL 104,775 in income.

Source: Batumelebi - 05.02.2024.

• Captured forests

A journalistic investigation has uncovered an alleged corruption scheme involving businessmen with close ties to the government and donors to the ruling party receiving construction permits in Tbilisi’s most prestigious forest areas and green spaces. At the initial stage, the Tbilisi City Assembly changes the zoning status of the territories in the forestry and recreation zones in Tbilisi, and then the City Hall issues construction permits.

Experts warn that deforestation and the loss of recreational spaces in these areas can increase the risk of natural disasters.

Source: Studio Monitor - 03.02.2024.

• Nepotism and unjustified property involving the former Deputy Minister of Defense

The son of the [former] Deputy Minister of Defense purchased a house in Baltimore, Maryland for USD 205,000. The TV story reveals that the son of the First Deputy Minister of Defense is employed by the Ministry of Defense. Tornike Chikovani previously worked with his mother at the State Security Service. In 2021, he followed his mother who moved to the Ministry of Defense. In 2022, Tornike Chikovani was deployed to New York by the order of Minister Juansher Burchuladze.

The story also reveals suspicious cases of the Chikovani family purchasing properties through compulsory auctions.

Source: TV Pirveli - 27.01.2024.

• Racketeering on behalf of Bidzina Ivanishvili performed by Otar Partskhaladze

The investigative story uncovers a scheme of racketeering in the gambling business by Otar Partskhaladze. Mamuka Kuntelia, a whistleblower, is a former shareholder of CrystalBet, who gave up his 10% share after direct demand and pressure from Partskhaladze. Initially, Kuntelia was asked to give up his share on behalf of Partskhaladze, but later Partskhaladze personally got involved. Partskhaladze assured Kuntelia that he was acting upon the instructions of Bidzina Ivanishvili. In 2019, Kuntelia relinquished his shares. The case involves Levan Kakava, the current head of the LEPL Revenue Service, and Giorgi Gakharia, who served as the business ombudsman then.

Source: TV Pirveli - 27.01.2024.

• Untouchable brother-in-law of Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri

Investigative journalists obtained court hearing records according to which patrol inspector Andria Sikharulidze stopped Zoba Mikhanashvili, who is Vakhtang Gomelauri’s brother-in-law, and demanded that he take a breathalyzer test. Sikharulidze faced pressure and was subsequently arrested due to this fact.

A month and a half after the incident with the minister’s brother-in-law, Andria Sikharulidze was arrested by the General Inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for taking a GEL 300 bribe. The court sentenced Sikharulidze to seven years in prison. The main witness in the case, according to the journalistic investigation, is an agent-provocateur. The court hearing records reveal that a taxi driver, who appeared as a witness in the case, was soon employed by the police.

The family claims that Sikharulidze was physically assaulted at the police station following his arrest.

Source: TV Pirveli - 20.01.2024.

_________________________________________________________

2023

• Corruption in the Ministry of Defence

The investigative report exposes rampant corruption within the Ministry of Defence, uncovering instances of feeding the army expired products and providing substandard clothing and bedding. Civil servants who dared to raise concerns and issue negative assessments regarding the quality of provisions faced termination. Whistleblowers allege the direct involvement of Minister Juansher Burchuladze and his deputy Zurab Azarashvili (now Minister of Health) in these corrupt practices.

Moreover, questions arise regarding the quality of construction projects within the ministry, with indications of nepotism apparent as the Minister’s family members hold positions within the ministry's quality control and procurement departments.

Source: TV Pirveli - 02.12.2023

• Ex-Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze's real estate

According to the investigative report, the brother of former Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze is building a five-story residence in Mtskheta, the real owner of which is the former Prime Minister himself. In 2016, Bakhtadze's brother acquired 610 sq. m and 199 sq. m of state-owned land in the historic city of Mtskheta. Subsequently, he secured a 35-year lease from the state for an adjacent plot spanning 1590 sq. m, intended to serve as the courtyard for the ongoing construction project.

The process surrounding the land registration, lease acquisition, and the source of funds for construction raises significant questions, particularly given the apparent financial constraints publicly attributed to the Prime Minister's brother. Furthermore, investigative journalism reveals Mamuka Bakhtadze's prior financial struggles, including property auctioning and eviction from his residence, casting further scrutiny on the situation.

Source: TV Pirveli - 09.12.2023

• Construction business related to MP Kontselidze and conflict of interest

Member of Parliament Resan Kontselidze's legislative initiative on construction amnesty in Batumi raises concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, as Kontselidze's nephews Vakhtang and Gocha Kontselidze are directly involved in the construction business in Batumi. Adding to the complexity, another nephew of Kontselidze, Archil Kontselidze, holds a prominent position as the head of Batumi Municipal Inspection, entrusted with overseeing public construction activities in Batumi.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 22.12.2023

• 335 Million GEL Contracts to a Ruling Party Major Donor

From 2011 to 2023, businessman Giorgi Chkonia's enterprises amassed 335,638,719 GEL from state procurements alone. Additionally, Chkonia obtained usage and/or ownership rights to over 4 hectares of state-owned land, coupled with millions of GEL in grant funding from the government.

Chkonia and his business associates contributed a combined total of 1,394,000 GEL to both the ruling party and presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili. Notably, one of Chkonia's partners, Ala Kakhniauri, maintains close ties with Bidzina Ivanishvili and continues to hold managerial positions in several of Ivanishvili's enterprises.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 12.12.2023

• Up to 2 million GEL from state purchases for the Adigeni municipal officials’s family

The companies of Giorgi Endeladze, the mayor's representative in the Khevasheni administrative unit of Adigeni municipality, received 1,905,649 GEL from 244 state purchases. Of these, 896,271 GEL (47%) were collected from Adigeni City Hall and its legal entities.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 07.12.2023

• MP Irakli Zarkua's Blueberry Business

According to the investigative story, Irakli Zarkua, a member of the Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, owns blueberry plantations in Samegrelo through third parties. Although the extensive 55,000 sq. m plantation is not officially registered under Zarkua's name, a substantial 19,000 sq. m of land is attributed to his mother, with the remaining portion registered under the names of his uncle, aunt, cousins, and other family members. Local sources strongly suggest that the MP effectively owns these plantations.

Source: TV Formula - 18.11.2023

• Business interests of the high-ranking police officer’s brother on the Kintrishi River

Following the Prime Minister's directive, which eliminated the necessity for a license, the extraction of inert material from the Kintrishi River triggered modifications to the riverbed, resulting in complications for the local community. Mining operations are conducted by Mining Group LLC, led by Director Guram Tamazashvili, who happens to be the sibling of Sulkhan Tamazashvili, the Head of the Tbilisi Police Department. Environmental activists and certain residents suspect that the company is extracting more material than permitted by the decree and scrutiny into the matter is hindered by the influential connections of the company's director.

Source: TV Formula - 18.11.2023

• Lands belonging to the son of the Defence Minister in the Kakheti

According to an investigative report, the 21-year-old son of Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, along with his associates, obtained ownership of land parcels in Kakheti under dubious circumstances. Notably, these plots, initially denied legalization by the public registry for private individuals, were subsequently approved with the aid of the same witnesses involved. Within just two days of registration, these lands were transferred to Davit Burchuladze and his business partner, purportedly for the construction of a hotel. The local municipality allocated 1.5 million GEL to facilitate road and utility infrastructure for these properties.

Another business of the minister's son is Russian baths, with the access road funded by the local government's budget.

Source: TV Pirveli - 18.11.2023

• Political donations and tenders of mining companies in Imereti

In Imereti, mineral extraction license holders engage in state procurement while also contributing financially to the ruling party. A total of 25 licensed companies and associated individuals donated 2,485,931 GEL. Furthermore, 26 of these licensed entities were awarded state contracts amounting to 757,566,585 GEL.

Additionally, a member of the Vani City Assembly received state contracts totaling 26,226,116 GEL from the ruling party between 2019 and 2021. Notably, Grigol Liluashvili, the head of the State Security Service, serves as the godfather of Paikidze's son.

Source: Transparency International Georgia - 22.11.2023; Radio Liberty - 27.06.2020.

• Uncovering the Trail of Smuggled Cigarettes

The journalistic investigation shows the scheme of smuggling cigarettes from the territory of occupied Abkhazia. The investigation also shows cases of the sale of contraband cigarettes in several cities of Georgia, including the capital. According to several whistleblowers, including former police officers, the business of smuggled goods is patronized by influential officials.

Source: Radio Liberty - 31.10.2023. 15.05.2021;

• PM Irakli Gharibashvili's mother-in-law Property

Maia Papiashvili, the mother-in-law of the Prime Minister, recently acquired a 930 sq. m land parcel close to Irakli Garibashvili's residence in Bakuriani for USD 150,000. The area adjacent to this parcel is under the surveillance of the Prime Minister's Guard, restricting access to the state-owned forest, prompting concerns about potential irregularities regarding the Prime Minister's family's land ownership.

Furthermore, in 2018, the Prime Minister's mother-in-law purchased a property valued at over a million GEL in Tbilisi, making the transaction in cash without resorting to a loan.

Source: TV Pirveli - 30.09.2023

• Undeclared property of the General Director of SOE Georgian Railway

The investigative report disclosed undeclared assets belonging to Davit Peradze, the general director of the state-owned entity, JSC Georgian Railway. Among these assets are a lavish villa, a high-end vehicle, and luxury accessories belonging to his wife. Concerns have been raised regarding the discrepancy between Peradze's declared income and the apparent source of funds for acquiring such properties, as the declared income falls significantly short.

Furthermore, Peradze has appointed close friends and business partners of his family members to influential positions within Georgian Railway, raising questions about nepotism.

Source: Studio Monitor - 30.09.2023, 01.11.2023; OCCRP – 29.09.2023.

• State property received by Romeo Mikautadze, First Deputy Minister of Economy

The journalistic investigation discloses an alleged corrupt scheme of the acquisition of state property through intermediaries and fictitious agreements by the first deputy minister of economy, Romeo Mikautadze.

In 2019, Blueberry Lab LLC was established by Nino Kardava. A mere two weeks after its inception, the state granted the company 133,190 square meters of land on a 25-year lease for 437 GEL per month and allocated 90,000 GEL for the cultivation of blueberry gardens. In 2021, Nino Kardava transferred a 33% share each to Romeo Mikautadze and Bachana Suladze, the director of JSC UES Sakrusenergo. Finally, in 2022, Romeo Mikautadze's company acquired 133 thousand sq.m of land without an auction, through a direct sale, at an approximate rate of 1.12 GEL per sq. m. Mikautadze purchased this property from the National Agency of State Property, which is under the ministry in which he is the Deputy Minister. It's worth noting that Romeo Mikautadze shares a baptismal bond with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

Publication date: 28 October 2023

Source: TV Pirveli

• The uncle of Ninotsminda Municipal Assembly senior official received state contracts of up to 3 million GEL

Razmik Gumashyan, the ruling party donor and uncle of Garush Arzumaniani, the deputy chairman of the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia faction at the Ninotsminda Municipal Assembly, received 2,840,710 GEL state procurements contracts from Ninotsminda Municipal Administration in 2013-2023, of which 1,759,795 GEL (61.9% of the amount received) was secured through disqualifying competitors, non-competitive tenders, or direct procurements.

Publication date: 27 October 2023

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• 28 million GEL state contracts secured by former public officials

Upon concluding their public positions, the companies of Sulkhan Zumburidze and Mamuka Papuashvili received over 28 million GEL state procurements and acquired 15 hectares of land, with a 49-year lease allowing them to construct buildings on the property. Zumburidze served as director and chairman of the Board of Directors for JSC Georgian State Electrosystem, one of the most lucrative companies in Georgia, and Papuashvili was a member of the board of directors of the same SOE. Sulkhan Zumburidze's business partners donated a total of 195,000 GEL to the ruling party on various occasions.

Publication date: 24 October 2023

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• Business and property under the name of the daughter of the head of the Special State Protection Service, Anzor Chubinidze

The investigation report discloses the alcoholic beverage company under the name of Mariam Chubinidze, a 25-year-old daughter of Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special State Protection Service. Anzor Chubinidze has maintained that the construction of the factory, acquisition of land parcels, installation of production facilities, and the initiation of the new factory project were solely funded by his salary, which, as publicly available information suggests, amounts to approximately 5000 GEL. However, documents obtained by investigative journalists reveal that the Chubinidze family received 491,263 GEL from the NNLE Rural Development Agency to establish this factory, and over half a million GEL was invested by the company of Chubinidze. In addition, only in 2023, Mariam Chubinidze registered 12,000 sq. m. land under her name.

Publication date: 21 October 2023

Source: TV Pirveli

• Public procurement contracts worth over 53 million GEL to a state-favored company

Since 2011, state-privileged company Neostar LLC and its subsidiary companies have been granted land plots totalling 161,369 square meters, including 129,852 square meters granted at a symbolic price of 1 GEL, and have secured state procurement contracts amounting to 53,661,137 GEL, mostly from Kobuleti Municipality. These companies are associated with Badri Romanadze, former head of architecture service at Kobuleti municipality.

Publication date: 28 September 2023

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• “The Feudal Lord of Javakheti”

According to the investigation report, contrary to decentralization, the Javakheti region is under the influence of clan governance, where a significant amount of land is in the hands of a few powerful and affluent individuals. For example, Sumbat and Seyran Kyuregyan possess several million square meters of land, a total expanse larger than the entire state of Monaco. Since 2020, Sumbat Kyuregyan has been an MP from Georgian Dream, and before that between 2012 and 2020 he served as the chairman of the Ninotsminda Municipal Assembly. Meanwhile, his father, Seyran Kyuregyan, served as the chairman of the District Election Commission of Ninotsminda for 17 years. Collectively, Sumbat Kyuregyan, along with his wife, mother, father, and son, possesses approximately 3,800,000 square meters of land in Javakheti.

Publication date: 5 August 2023

Source: Radio Liberty/Studio Monitor

• Corruption Risks in Abastumani

Between August 2018 and December 2022, six public agencies invested a substantial sum of GEL 249,920,551 into the development of Abastumani. This expenditure marks a nearly 14-fold increase when compared to the period from 2012 to 2018. The surge in government-backed infrastructure projects in Abastumani coincided with the keen economic interest displayed by Bidzina Ivanishvili in the resort. Notably, a significant portion of the allocated funds, amounting to 83.1% of the total, was received by the companies associated with Georgian Dream party donors. They donated GEL 1,276,000 to the ruling party.

Publication date: 9 December 2022

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• Captured state institutions in the service of the former chief prosecutor, Otar Partskhaladze

On September 14, 2023, the US imposed sanctions on Otar Partskhaladze, the former chief prosecutor of Georgia, for his cooperation with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

According to Transparency International Georgia’s 2018 report, after leaving the office, the assets of Partskhaladze and his spouse notably expanded. Moreover, he acquired substantial assets in Russia as well. In February 2016, as per the State Audit Office, Tbilisi City Hall illicitly transferred property to Partskhaladze's company, allegedly as a result of a corrupt deal.

Under an independent and impartial justice system, Otar Partskhaladze would have been held accountable in multiple instances.

Publication date: September 2023.

Source: Transparency International Georgia – 16.09.2023, 09.11.2018, 28.02.2018; TV Pirveli - 16.09.2023, 23.09.2023; US State Department - 14.09.2023.

• Alleged misuse of government aircraft for personal reasons

According to the journalistic investigation, PM Irakli Garibashvili used the state plane for personal purposes, to fly himself and members of his family from Tbilisi to Munich on August 19. The plane was parked at Munich airport for a week, waiting for PM to return from the US, and then it returned to Tbilisi on August 28. Tamaz Gaiashvili, the owner of Georgian Airways, confirmed the flight's authenticity.

Later, the Head of the Special State Protection Service Anzor Chubinidze announced that the cost of the roundtrip flight for MP Garibashvili and his family amounted to 34,000 Euros and it was paid by the PM's father, Tariel Garibashvili. The origin of this amount also raises questions, as the PM's father is a retiree and is unlikely to possess the means to afford such a payment.

The story also shows the opulent birthday celebration of the Prime Minister's spouse, involving civil servants in organizational issues. Based on their publicly declared income, the PM's family seems unable to cover the costs of such an event.

In another investigative report, it was revealed that the mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze, had made personal use of the government plane on multiple occasions. It was confirmed by Kaladze himself, but he clarified that the expenses for this service were not covered by the state budget.

Publication date: 9 September 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - 09.09.2023, 16.09.2023.

• Expansion of the Prime Minister's family estate and unexplained wealth

The journalistic investigation uncovers the expansion of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's family estate in Dedoplistskaro since 2012. The land has grown in size four times and currently scores 6,126 sq. m. According to the contract signed on March 27, 2023, the Prime Minister's father, Tariel Garibashvili, paid only 5000 GEL for 1339 sq. m, which is just 3.37 GEL per square meter. This price is 15 times less than the market value and raises questions on alleged illicit income legalization. Additionally, the investigation found that part of the land fenced by the Prime Minister's family has been illegally appropriated and does not belong to them.

In February 2023, Tariel Garibashvili acquired a share in a wine factory, and in March, he purchased a house and land from a neighbor. Additionally, in the past two years, he has gifted his son 300,000 GEL in 2021-2022. Following his son's assumption of the prime minister's role, he acquired agricultural parcels totaling 27,494 square meters.

According to official reports, the Prime Minister's father funded a charter flight, incurring costs totaling 100,000 GEL. Furthermore, investigative journalists unveiled that the PM's family possesses a chateau in Kakheti. PM’s father built a new complex, comprising three buildings and encompassing a 27,494 sq. m land plot. Apparently, the local authorities built the road leading to the Garibashvili chateau. A separate investigation has revealed that Tariel Garibashvili did not possess any wealth or assets before his son became PM.

Publication date: 6 May 2023 - 16 September 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - 6.05.2023, 16.09.2023-I, 16.09.2023-II.

• Luxury birthday party for the Prime Minister's wife

The journalistic investigation shows the opulent birthday celebration of the Prime Minister's spouse, involving civil servants in organizational issues. Based on their publicly declared income, the PM's family seems unable to cover the costs of such an event. According to the investigation, the PM's wife broke the law by accepting a gift exceeding the annual limit of 1000 GEL and also by misusing government employees from the Administration of the Government and Special State Protection Service to oversee her private event.

Publication date: September, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - 09.09.2023, 23.09.2023.

• Suspicious tenders of Sagarejo City Hall

In 2017-2021, Sagarejo City Hall signed almost 1.5 million GEL public procurement contracts with Maia LLC. As it appears, these tenders were customized for the company right from the beginning: Out of 18 tenders, 8 had no other bidders, 8 were secured through the disqualification of competitors, and in 17 out of 18 tenders, the contract amount was subsequently raised. It is highly probable that the City Hall intentionally set lower initial tender prices to discourage competition.

Publication date: 16 August 2023

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• Kutaisi City Hall signed a large contract with a new company

The Kutaisi City Hall awarded a simplified (direct) public procurement contract worth 214,524 GEL to a newly established company, founded by the ruling party donors, to conduct the work whose necessity has been recognized long in advance.

Publication date: 8 July 2023

Source: Transparency International Georgia

• Undeclared assets of MP Anton Obolashvili

Investigative journalists have uncovered hidden assets belonging to Member of Parliament Anton Obolashvili, who failed to disclose a parking lot in Paris valued at 58,000 EUR and apartments in Dubai worth 1,200,000 USD. Furthermore, it has been revealed that he earns an annual income of 20,000 USD from renting out the Dubai apartments, which is also not indicated in asset declarations.

Publication date: 8 July 2023

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty, OCCRP.

• Suspicious Procurements in Zugdidi Municipality

Companies linked with Zaza Antia - a friend and classmate of two public officials: the Zugdidi Mayor Mamuka Tsotseria, and deputy state representative in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region Davit Kukhaleishvili, receive local state procurement contracts.

From 2018 to the present, Road Plus LLC and Building Group 17 LLC have been rewarded tenders worth 22,108,948 GEL, of which 77% were obtained without competition or by disqualifying competing companies. Interestingly, 12,129,286 GEL tenders were received solely from Zugdidi City Hall.

Publication date: 4 July 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• Prime Minister's relatives in public service and the corrupt scheme of obtaining state property at an undervalued price

The journalistic investigation uncovers alleged nepotism, wherein relatives and close associates of PM Irakli Gharibashvili's wife have been appointed to positions within public institutions.

Additionally, the investigation reveals a purported corrupt scheme involving the acquisition of state lands at significantly reduced prices. This scheme operates by transferring state property to the jurisdiction of local self-governments, who subsequently engage private audit firms to assess the monetary value of the land. These assessments consistently undervalue the property, significantly below its market price. For example, the scheme involved the initial purchase of lands at undervalued prices by fictitious individuals. Subsequently, these lands were then sold to Irakli Shiolashvili, a classmate of Nunuka Tamazashvili (PM’s wife). Furthermore, the prime minister's father and his business partners also took advantage of this scheme to acquire state land at a significantly reduced cost.

Publication date: 24 June 2023

Source: TV Pirveli

• Suspicious tenders of the companies of the former high-ranking police official in Akhalkalaki

The companies of Khachik Mosoyan, a former high-ranking police official in Akhalkalaki and a Georgian Dream party donor, received 2,687,008 GEL through 49 state procurement contracts in 2014-2022. A total of 1 928 488 GEL (71.7%) was obtained from Akhalkalaki City Hall, where his relative served as the head of the legal service for a period of 6 years.

Publication date: 22 June 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• Alleged nepotism and favoritism in the SOE Georgian State Electrosystem

Former MP Vano Zardiashvili, who, according to a 2021 journalist investigation (included in this list below), was helping the ruling party influence the court's final decisions, allegedly practices nepotism and favoritism. Zardiashvili is a member of the board of directors of JSC Georgian State Electrosystem, where 6 people linked with him, the government, and the clan in control of the Georgian judiciary are employed in the two departments under his direct supervision.

Publication date: 19 June 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• Assets of the Minister of Internal Affairs

The current Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, purchased a new property. According to his asset declaration, Gomelauri purchased a 542,000 GEL 200 sq. m residential apartment in Archi Tower, in Tbilisi, Chavchavadze Avenue. A journalistic investigation reveals that the minimum price per square meter in that building was $2,800 at the time when it was bought, indicating that the minister now possesses a property with a market value of 1.5 million GEL. Furthermore, certain circumstances suggest that Gomelauri may have previously owned this apartment under a different name to obscure his ownership.

According to the 2022 journalistic investigation, Giorgi Meladze, Gomelauri's personal bodyguard, owned 2 underground parking lots in Archi Tower since 2017, which raised suspicions that this property belonged to Vakhtang Gomelauri and he also owned an apartment there, which was confirmed by the 2023 investigation. According to the 2022 investigation, there are businesses and real estate worth several millions in the name of Meladze.

According to a separate journalistic investigation from early 2023, allegedly Gomelauri also owns construction and gaming businesses under the name of Davit Velijanashvili.

Publication date: 17 June 2023

Source: TV Pirveli: 2023-II; 2023-I; 2022

• Alleged corrupt deals in Adjara

Esia Group LLC, a company linked to public officials in Adjara, receives state procurements. The company has obtained 1,869,747 GEL contacts since July 2021. The founder of the company, Irakli Aznaurishvili, is related to the Beridze brothers: Akaki Beridze is the director of the Batumi municipal nonprofit Department of City Infrastructure and Amenities, and Roland Beridze is the deputy mayor of Keda municipality and the first deputy head of the Roads Department of Adjara.

Publication date: 14 June 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• Non-competitive tenders awarded to a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin in Adjara

Severi LLC (Север), the company of Ildar Neverov, a businessman with strong Kremlin connections, won numerous non-competitive tenders across Adjara. Since 2013, the company has participated in 73 state procurements, securing 69 of them. Out of these, 63 were obtained without competition, while 6 were won by disqualifying competing bidders. The total amount received by the company sums up to 4,816,286 GEL. In the same period, 39 simplified purchase agreements of 163,428 GEL were signed with the company.

Publication date: June 9, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/ncsy

• Alleged corruption schemes in Tbilisi City Hall

The journalist investigation described a scheme, wherein a construction business allegedly obtained land for building projects from Tbilisi City Hall through a corrupt arrangement involving a land swap.

Over a period of six days, citizen Shalva Kvrivishvili purchased land plots unusable for construction amounting to 1,100,000 GEL. Eleven days later, he applied to the City Hall, requesting a land exchange, and eventually obtained a land plot on Lisi for construction purposes. The investigation questions Kvrivishvili's ability to acquire the initial property, especially without a loan. Additionally, it was revealed that Kvrivishvili's business partner and shareholder in the company made a political donation of 50,000 GEL to the ruling party.

Publication date: May 27, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://t.ly/ZLMO

• Alleged rigged tender involving the company of a former high-ranking police official

The company of a former high-ranking official of the Tbilisi Main Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ioseb (Soso) Alavidze, has obtained a contract worth GEL 7.8 million from the Georgian Railway through allegedly rigged public procurement specifications.

Georgian Railway required a minimum of 20 years of uninterrupted experience from the supplier, which placed Alavidze's company Intersecurity-Georgia LLC in an advantageous position. According to the business register of the National Statistics Office, Intersecurity-Georgia LLC is the only company in Georgia with 20 years of experience in the security protection sector, specifically offering specialized manpower security services.

Publication date: May 23, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/9eRk

• Alleged corruption in grape-harvesting subsidy program

Four companies linked with MP Zaal Dugladze received a total of 8,562,573 GEL through the state agro-credit program in 2013-2022. Along with Zaal Dugladze, Bidzina Ivanishvili's brother, Aleksandre Ivanishvili, has his own business interests in the companies.

TI Georgia reported alleged corruption in the grape-harvesting subsidiary program back in 2022, as well: From the 138 million GEL spent by the government on subsidizing the harvest in 2021, a significant part of it was obtained by the ruling party donors and companies linked with high-ranking public officials, including the close circle of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili.

Publication date: 11 May 2023

Source: TI Georgia: 2023, 2022.

• Municipality allocated 290,000 GEL from its budget to build a road connecting two hotels owned by MP Gocha Enukidze

The City Hall of Ambrolauri Municipality allocated 290,000 GEL for the construction of a road connecting a hotel to newly built cottages belonging to Gocha Enukidze, the majoritarian deputy of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti. The narrow road in this section does not lead to any other residential buildings and doesn't hold the official designation as a locally significant road.

This is not the first case of rehabilitation of a road from the municipal budget in favor of Enukidze's business. The municipality also financed the construction of a bypass road leading to the Karse hotel complex of the MP in the village of Sadmeli, a 5-minute drive from the Ambrolauri airport.

Publication date: May 8, 2023

Source: Mtis Ambebi - https://bit.ly/3Ifwcey, https://bit.ly/3MsMJyv

• Minister’s brother acquires state property in suspicious circumstances

The journalistic investigation reveals how Davit Davitashvili, Vice Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili's brother, acquired 8,500 sq. m. state property land in Saguramo.

The government subdivided 11,610 sq. m. land; altered the status of 2,500 sq. m. to allow for construction and within a span of three weeks, through a direct sales procedure sold the land to the minister’s brother for a price of 40 GEL per sq. m.

6 000 sq. m arable land was put up for auction for leasing, which Davit Davitashvili leased for 30 GEL per month. As part of the lease agreement, he was obligated to use the land for agricultural purposes. The Ministry of Agriculture, headed at the time by Levan Davitashvili, brother of Davit Davitashvili, was responsible for ensuring the agreement's adherence. In 2020, a government decree enabled the purchase of the land bought by Davit Davitashvili at a substantially reduced price of 26 GEL per sq. m, far below its market value.

Pursuant to the same governmental decree, Giorgi Nikolaishvili, the brother of Archil Nikolaishvili, the head of the National Forestry Agency at that time, also bought state-owned land in Saguramo. Archil Nikolaishvili handed a part of the Bakuriani forest to Irakli Gharibashvili's wife for half a century when being the head of the NFA.

Publication date: May 6, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3LE7zt7

• Suspicious circumstances of appropriation of state lands by MP Fridon Injia

A journalistic investigation uncovers the schemes of alleged seizing of state-owned lands in Martvil by MP Fridon Injia. The investigation discloses several cases when the MP and his family members are reported to have unlawfully registered state-owned lands under their ownership, purportedly through falsification of documents, claiming that these lands had been in their possession for years. For example, Injia's son-in-law appropriated 52,412 sq. m. in the village of Bandza. The state-owned land was registered without any cost, which, according to the locals, has been used for communal purposes for many years.

Publication date: May 6, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3VEdxig

• Company owned by the son of the Akhaltsikhe City Council public official received state procurements of up to 9 million GEL

Company owned by the son and daughter-in-law of Nodar Talakhadze, the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Commission and Member of the Tender Commission of the Akhaltsikhe City Council - Company L S Georgia LLC - received 8,797,512 GEL from the state procurements in 2020-2021. 2,290,017 GEL (78%) contracts of which were awarded by Akhaltsikhe City Hall through tenders without competition and direct procurements.

Publication date: April 25, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3LBggnY

• Questionable procurements received by the former public official's company

Davit Chartolani, the former deputy governor of Bolnisi and head of the election headquarters of Georgian Dream in Bolnisi in 2012, owns the Koruldi LLC, which won the tenders of the Mestia municipality without any competition. The total worth of these contracts amounts to 2,247,897 GEL. The company won all six tenders, with five of them awarded without any competing bids, and one obtained through the disqualification of competitors.

Publication date: April 19, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/JT0N

• Alleged corruption in political donations

Nukri Dolidze, a former member of the Batumi City Assembly, donated 50,000 GEL to Georgian Dream and received 45 million GEL from tenders in the first four months of 2023.

According to TI Georgia's 2021 report, the companies of Nukri Dolidze, Bondi 2009 and Monoliti 2005 are one of the major implementers of large infrastructure projects in Adjara. Both companies received up to GEL 130 million in 2010-2021, mainly from state procurements of Batumi City Hall and Adjara Roads Department, among them 68% were won without competition, by disqualifying the competitors and simplified procurements.

Publication date: 19 April 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/Ch-Y, bit.ly/3vNclKL

• MP Victor Japaridze’s brother-in-law receives state procurements

MP Viktor Japaridze's brother-in-law Aleko Khvistani’s company received 6,549,941 GEL from public tenders, and 13,077,076 GEL from classified procurements. Aleko Khvistani is the director of Elektro Montazh Servisi LLC, and his wife Maia Chelidze is the owner of the company's 50% shares.

Aleko Kvistani is a Georgian Dream party donor. He donated a total of 110 000 GEL in 2014-2020.

Publication date: 13 April 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3L6hYP4

• Alleged political corruption in Kelvachauri Sakrebulo

Russian citizens are planning to build a 16,000 sq.m. residential area (Salibauri Hills) near Batumi, on Salibauri Hill. Two Georgian citizens linked with the company donated a total of 40,000 GEL to the ruling party and two weeks later received approval for the Detailed Development Plan (DDP) from the Khelvachauri Assembly (Sakrebulo). The close proximity between the donation and the permit issuance raises concerns of potential ulterior motives behind the donation, possibly to secure the building permit. The fact that the donation was made by citizens of Georgia related to the construction project raises concern that funds may not actually belong to them, but rather to the Russian citizens who own the construction company.

Publication date: 12 April 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• Companies of relatives of the Senaki mayor win tenders of Senaki City Hall

In 2023, the company of the uncle of the Senaki mayor, Vakhtang Gadelia, JSC Archeopolis won two non-competitive tenders worth a total of 5,251,682 GEL.

Vakhtang Gadelia was elected as the mayor of Senak in 2021, and in 3 months his uncle's and cousin's companies (JSC Archeopolis and Indiko LLC) won 5 local tenders worth 2,614,550 GEL without competition. Vakhtang Gadelia himself has previously worked for JSC Archeopolis.

Publication date: April 4, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3MW48jE, https://bit.ly/3mE4K2S

• Alleged corrupt practices in the issuance of construction permits and apartments for the Tbilisi deputy mayor’s relatives

The journalistic investigation reveals Tbilisi Deputy Mayor Irakli Bendeliani’s suspicious ties with construction companies. Despite widespread protests from the public, Tbilisi City Hall continues to grant construction permits for large apartment complexes, seemingly without regard for the concerns of local residents and in complete alignment with the demands of construction companies. In these buildings, multiple apartments belonging to the relatives of Irakli Bendeliani, including his family members, have been discovered.

Publication date: 27 March 2023

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3mlYr3L

• Company of the Director of the Akhalkalaki Municipal NNLE wins local tenders

Martin Gabrieliani, who has held various positions in Akhalkalaki Municipality since 2013, receives state purchases. Since August 2019, his company Megobroba-5 LLC has successfully secured 36 state procurement contracts worth 1,390,861 GEL. Out of this amount, 667,186 GEL (47.9%) was accrued from the budget of Akhalkalaki through 21 procurements.

Publication date: 27 March 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3mF2PuR

• Company of the head of the Government Administration receives state procurements worth millions

As per the journalistic investigation, it was found that the company of Revaz Javelidze, the head of the Administration of the Government of Georgia, Infrakon LLC (ID 405259660) received state procurement contracts worth millions of GEL. For example, Javelidze's company signed contracts worth 1,438,247 GEL with the LEPL Roads Department, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure in 2022, and 2,344,770 GEL with the Municipality of Kareli in 2023.

Revaz Javelidze owns 100% shares of Infrakon LLC, wherein the right of the management is transferred to a third person.

Publication date: 25 March 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3MxZWXe

• The Court in the service of Vano Chkhartishvili

The journalist investigation shows how Vano Chkhartishvili, a businessman close to Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been winning disputes with investors in the Georgian court and taking tens of millions of dollars from them. The court ordered a Kazakh company to pay 12 million dollars to Chkhartishvili's company, which also received an 8.5 million dollar loan from an unprofitable state-owned company Georgian Railways.

Publication date: March 1, 2023

Source: Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3kLY7un, https://bit.ly/3muATsV

• Unexplained wealth of a deputy minister

The journalist investigation documents the unexplained wealth of Romeo Mikautadze, the Deputy Minister of Economy, including: luxury houses and cars, a hotel business, and a development company with properties in Tsavkisi and Tsaghveri.

In addition, the investigation tells the story of a purchase of a monument of cultural heritage in the tourist center of Tbilisi by former high-ranking city officials allegedly through abuse of power.

Publication date: February 25, 2023

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3mvr9i7

• Alleged case of a ‘revolving door’ and tailor-made regulation

A day after resigning from his post as ESCO's Director General, Vakhtang Ambokadze became the Director of the Inter RAO Georgia LLC, whose only client in the 2019-2020 period was the ESCO. The amendments made to the decree of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission in 2020 increased the profits of Vakhtang Ambokadze's company. It is dubious why an intermediary company was necessary to supply the ESCO with electricity imported from Russia with an added markup.

Publication date: February 23, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3Fk2eF7

• Illegal constructions by public officials

TI Georgia identified unauthorized constructions carried out by 3 officials in Adjara, namely: Eduard Nakashidze, Deputy Minister of Health of Adjara, illegally constructed his house; The wife of Kobuleti Municipal Council chairman Davit Mchedlishvili illegally expanded her house to (5 times more area); The wife of Temur Kurshubadze, Head of the Ajara Forest Agency, illegally built 2 new buildings.

Publication date: February 20, 2023

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3mrw189

• Alleged corruption case related to Terjola municipal procurements

A company of Lado Khvareshia, who is on close familial terms with Terjola City Council members, received municipal procurement contracts worth 500 000 GEL over the period of 9 months. The first tender was won just two months after the company was established. In one of the tenders, the Terjola City Hall disqualified the competitors of the Khvareshia company due to a ‘flaw’ that had not been a problem on previous occasions.

Publication date: February 15, 2023

Source: ifact.ge - https://bit.ly/3BzSlAU

• Alleged corrupt practices in the issuance of fishing licenses

According to a journalistic investigation, in 2018, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture extended the fishing license for anchovy extraction in the Black Sea until 2036 to four companies, whose shareholders are related to the ruling Georgian Dream party and Bidzina Ivanishvili's cousin Ucha Mamatsashvili.

As per the investigation, even though the head of the Black Sea Monitoring Service had provided a negative assessment, the government fully fulfilled the requests from companies and altered the conditions for the license. The government's decision allowed companies to acquire a monopolistic position in the market.

Publication date: February 11, 2023

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3zL4z8R

• The business of the son of the Defence Minister

According to the journalistic investigation, Davit Burchuladze, the son of the Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Kolkheti LLC (ID 405369694) is building Russian-style saunas in Mukhattskaro village. The construction started two years ago and has already been completed. Juansher Burchuladze, Davit Burchuladze, and the company are registered at the same address, although the minister did not indicate his son and his business in his asset declaration. The minister's son was 19 years old when the company was founded.

Publication date: February 11, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/40eqyzC

• The company of a member of the Mestia City Assembly wins local public procurements

The company linked to Bachuki Nakani, the Chairman of the Economic Issues and Tourism Development Commission of the Mestia City Assembly (Sakrebulo), Builder 21 LLC secured 1,212,404 GEL from local public procurements, including 578,898 GEL - after Bachuki Nakani was elected to the position. The company won all tenders without competition.

Publication date: 8 February 2023

Source: TI Georgia

• More than a million GEL property holdings of Vakhtang Gomelauri's son-in-law

The investigative report revealed that Shalva Omsarashvili, who is the son-in-law of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, amassed a fortune of more than 1 million GEL within a remarkably short period - around one year, spanning a few months before and after his marriage to the minister's daughter. Minister's son-in-law, Shalva Omsarashvili, has registered several high-end cars and apartments in Tbilisi under his name, despite owning only a few hectares of land in Gurjaani prior to his marriage to Ana Gomelauri.

Publication date: February 4, 2023

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/41wk5RK

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2022

• Alleged cases of nepotism, conflict of interest, and illicit enrichment

The journalist investigation discloses dozens of alleged nepotism cases, where the family members of parliament members, ministers, and their deputies were employed in public organizations and state-owned companies. Moreover, the investigation includes alleged conflict of interest, illicit enrichment, and cases when persons close to the Georgian Dream party and the so-called “party assets” were employed at well-paid positions in state companies.

Publication date: 25 December 2022

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3X45VVf

• 1.7 million simplified procurement contract for Georgian Dream party donor

The LEPL National Agency of State Property signed a 1,724,814 GEL worth simplified procurement contract for purchasing the architectural service for the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development’s new building to be built - with a company owned by Giorgi Chkonia, who made ample donations to the Georgian Dream party in the past and is an architect of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s "Panorama Tbilisi" project.

Publication date: 5 December 2022

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3X7kdEA

• Bidzina Ivanishvili's interests and cement business

The findings of the journalistic investigation reveal that JSC HeidelbergCement Georgia, a Georgian cement production company co-owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili, is causing adverse environmental effects and jeopardizing the well-being of individuals. As per the investigation, the close affiliation between the company and Ivanishvili has resulted in an inadequate response from state agencies concerning the company's legal infractions.

Publication date: 26 November 2022

Source: Radio Liberty - https://t.ly/U9d0, https://t.ly/Z8NT 

• State property capture by the MP Levan Mgaloblishvili’s family

A recent investigative report has alleged that the family of Levan Mgaloblishvili, an MP from the Georgian Dream party, illegally occupied state-owned land in Tskneti, fenced it, and built a house on it. The report further suggests that the land in question still belongs to Tbilisi Municipality and has not been leased according to public registry records.

Publication date: 26 November 2022

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3GQCIYM

• Alleged political corruption related to the management of Racha forest

The article describes circumstances that indicate political corruption involving Davit Khidasheli, a Georgian businessman with Russian ties and close relationship with the Georgian ruling party. More specifically, after assisting the ruling party in launching a politically motivated case for the purpose of mobilizing voters in 2020, Khidasheli received a hunting farm license in the Racha forest that was 13 times less profitable then the alternative to set up a protected area. By prioritizing Khidasheli’s project, the country lost around 2 million GEL direct income.

Publication date: 24 November 2022

Source: TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3Fa28Pb

• MP Levan Mgaloblishvili's construction business

According to the journalistic investigation, Levan Mgaloblishvili, an MP from the Georgian Dream party, personally manages construction businesses despite the companies being registered under the names of his wife and father-in-law. The report further suggests that Marshall Didi Digomi LLC has been selling apartments without obtaining the necessary construction permits from Tbilisi City Hall.

Furthermore, workers involved in the construction of a residential complex in Gudauri have reportedly not been compensated for their work, with the MP allegedly personally intimidating those who have protested against this.

Publication date: 19 November 2022

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3UNP7Ta

• Election fraud scheme

Levan Oniani, the former chairman of the Rustavi City Assembly who fled to France, exposed a vote-mobilization scheme orchestrated by the ruling party. According to Oniani, prior to the elections, a substantial sum of illicit funds was withdrawn from the Georgian Dream's central office to engage in bribery and illicit activities. In return for votes, the party either provided monetary compensation or offered employment to relatives of the mediators within the City Hall. Additionally, there were cases when votes were secured through the distribution of food and medicines. Oniani also reveals the involvement of businesses, where employees were mobilized to support the ruling party. According to Oniani, all these activities were carried out with the consent of the heads of the election headquarters, Kakha Kaladze and Irakli Kobakhidze. According to Oniani, he received instructions to pass resolutions and issue decrees that favored specific individuals.

Publication date: 19 November 2022

Source: TV Pirveli

• Suspicious enrichment of Business Ombudsman Otar Danelia

The journalist investigation describes the suspicious enrichment, failure to declare property, illegal entrepreneurial activities, and alleged nepotism of Business Ombudsman Otar Danelia over the past 8 years, during which he held various other high positions.

Publication date: 12 November 2022

Source:  Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3iqoyUM

• Alleged corruption in state property privatization in Samtskhe-Javakheti

In the years 2013-2021, persons linked to the Georgian Dream party in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, as well as local public officials, a total of 39 natural/legal persons – purchased land with an area of 129,775 sq. meters, through 54 electronic auctions, for GEL 7,725,685. Out of this, 75% (97,417 sq. meters) of the privatized land was sold without competition for GEL 2,938,300. In addition, 8 natural/legal persons received an area of 378,223 sq. meters for GEL 1,458,387 through direct procurement.

TV Pirveli's investigative report uncovers a series of alleged illicit activities surrounding the acquisition of state land in Abastumani by Bidzina Ivanishvili. The report highlights instances of intimidation, racketeering, and the use of fictitious individuals. One example involves retiree Marina Kbilashvili, whose son Eldar Kbilashvili is a member of the Georgian Dream party and holds a position in the Adigeni City Assembly (Sakrebulo). Marina Kbilashvili purchased 5,684 square meters of state land for 568,400 GEL, with an additional commitment to invest 5 million GEL. Approximately a month after, she sold the land to Villa Abastumani LLC, a company with ties to Bidzina Ivanishvili. The investigation also uncovers the case where citizens were unable to register their land plots, which were subsequently sold to individuals connected to Ivanishvili, such as Demetri Tateshvili.

Publication date: 9 November 2022

Source: TI Georgia, TV Pirveli

• Illegal netting of the forest by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s company

The company owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili's wife fenced the state-owned forest (125,248 square meters) before obtaining the right to use it, covered it with nets at a height of 25 m, and commenced construction work. The journalistic investigation exposed that the company of Ivanishvili's wife officially leased the state-owned forest on November 3, 2022, for a period of 49 years, although on October 27, the forest was already covered with a net and fenced.

Apparently, the acting head of the LEPL National Forestry Agency only became aware of this information through the journalists' investigation. The architectural department of Sachkhere City Hall, which is responsible for issuing construction permits, also did not have information on these developments.

Publication date: 5 November 2022

Source: TV Pirveli, Netgazeti.

• Alleged cases of nepotism in civil service

The journalistic investigation uncovers cases of alleged nepotism, revealing a pattern where individuals connected to Bidzina Ivanishvili secure positions within the civil service. For example: 1. Bidzina Ivanishvili's brother's granddaughter, Tatia Ivanishvili, is employed in the Ministry of Defense; 2. Flora Milorava, a mother of Ivanishvili's personal bodyguard Irakli Sanikidze, is employed in the Tbilisi City Assembly. Milorava also shares a baptismal bond with Ivanishvili's wife, Ekaterina Khvedelidze. The investigation lists more examples.

Publication date: 5 November 2022

Source: TV Pirveli

• Suspicious contracts of Kharagauli City Hall and Sakrebulo

Between 2019 and 2022, as part of the Rural Support Program, Kharagauli City Hall awarded direct contracts totaling 230,000 GEL to individuals closely associated with both the City Hall and the Sakrebulo. This was done without any competitive bidding, and the selected companies lacked prior relevant experience. Under the program, Kharagauli City Hall entered into agreements with the father of a City Council member, the son and son-in-law of another City Council member, and a relative of a City Hall official.

Publication date: 01 November 2022

Source: ifact.ge

• Construction permit issued in favor of MP Pridon Injia's son

MP Fridon Injia's son, Ilia Injia, purchased a 17,000 sq. m. plot of land from the state at an auction in 2016 for 5 million GEL, with the obligation to build a multi-functional hotel and arrange a recreational space. However, later he decided to build a high-rise residential building, for which the Tbilisi City Hall radically changed its decision in 4 months, as a result, the status of the recreational zone was changed, it was turned into a construction zone and approval was given.

Publication date: 29 October 2022

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/3ogdFbg

• Suspicious public procurements by the company linked to the Kobuleti City Hall former and current high officials

Zoma LLC, which is related to the former and current high-ranking officials of Kobuleti City Hall, wins Kobuleti Municipality public procurement contracts without competition. The director of the company - Otar Zoidze is a former head of the municipal LLC Kobuleti Water, and deputy director Gia Goliadze’s wife - Fati Jincharadze is the head of the financial service of Kobuleti City Hall.

Kobuleti Municipality is the procurer in all (18) tenders won by Zoma LLC. The company received 847,974 GEL, including 634,415 GEL (75%) in non-competitive conditions. Kobuleti Municipality and its legal entities signed 25 simplified procurement contracts of 469,865 GEL with Zima LLC.

Publication date: 26 October 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3FCt2kE

• Alleged case of evasion of punishment by Sozar Subari

According to the journalistic investigation, when holding the position of the Minister of Corrections, Sozar Subari was driving an official vehicle in a drunken state, and as a result of a traffic accident, one person lost his life. Subari’s driver officially took responsibility for the accident, but he was not punished for this crime either. The investigative story disclosed that following the incident, the driver purchased a luxurious apartment worth 190,000 GEL in the city center. Notably, the loan was obtained through a lease from Cartu Bank. The deceased's wife admits to journalists that she was paid 20,000 GEL not to complain.

Publication date: 15 October 2022

Source: TV Pirveli - https://bit.ly/450Z0S5

• How a mayor’s representative got hold of lands in the village of Duzagrama

Based on a journalistic investigation, it has been revealed that Mukhtar Ismailov, who has held the position of the mayor's representative in the village of Duzagrama since 2007, acquired agricultural lands through the misuse of power and document falsification. Investigative journalists have exposed a scheme, wherein Ismailov orchestrates the transfer of land plots (90 HA land plots) to his family members or trusted individuals, which he then uses to cultivate various crops for his personal benefit.

Publication date: 6 October 2022

Source: ifact.ge - https://t.ly/q4ICu, https://t.ly/u_Te; OCCRP - https://t.ly/1V50

• Public procurement contracts received by MP Viktor Japaridze's businesses

Viktor Japaridze and his family members are shareholders of 11 different companies in total, they own a number of properties in Mestia and Tbilisi, including two hotels. The companies related to Viktor Japaridze received 7,775,565 GEL from public procurements. In addition, a study published in 2021 revealed that Viktor Japaridze's company received a subsidy of 528,150 GEL from the state budget.

Publication date: 5 October 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/39Nrenw, https://bit.ly/3Wm5zu6, https://bit.ly/3zZrkqb

• An alleged case of Pressure on Judges

A former Supreme Court judge Besarion Alavidze spoke about pressure exerted on judges in an interview on the TV Mtavari. According to Alavidze, the High Council of Justice demanded specific rulings from judges. Alavidze’s statement was confirmed by the currently incarcerated former high official of the State Security Service, Soso Gogashvili. Gogashvili stated that the State Security Service, upon the request of one of the leaders of the ‘judicial clan’ and Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals - Mikheil Chinchaladze, exerted pressure on Alavidze to force him into delivering a desired ruling on the case of TV Rustavi 2.

Publication date: 17 September 2022

Source:  TV Mtavari - https://bit.ly/3TW0RkV, Gogashvili Statement - https://bit.ly/3Dvh6OV, TI Georgia statement - https://bit.ly/3Wp5c1F

• Construction without permit and inaccuracies in the asset declaration of the Khelvachauri Mayor

Khelvachauri municipality Mayor Zaza Diasamidze started building a house in Batumi without a permit and did not disclose construction costs in his asset declaration. Moreover, he did not indicate the income (39,000 USD) received from the sale of the land plot owned by him.

Publication date: 31 August 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3FGKNiP

• 14 years of being a majoritarian MP and tens of million GEL from state procurements to Anzor Bolkvadze's family and relatives

Income of relatives and the close circle of Anzor Bolkvadze, elected from the Georgian Dream as a majoritarian MP in highland Adjara, reached GEL 13,647,191 from public procurement tenders in 2011-2021. In addition, Roda LLC owned by Anzor Bolkvadze’s relative received GEL 4,891,873 from public procurements, of which 53% (GEL 2,611,087) were received from simplified procurements, tenders without competition, and at the expense of disqualification of competitors in procurements.

Publication date: 15 August 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/37OUV6W, https://bit.ly/3Dt6SyE, https://bit.ly/3o7yYeE

• The hidden wealth of judges and ‘clan rule’ in the judiciary

According to the joint investigation by Studio Monitor and OCCRP, the most influential Georgian judges - Levan Murusidze and Mikheil Chinchaladze do not disclose their expensive properties. In particular, Levan Murusidze failed to disclose assets belonging to his long-term romantic partner (unregistered marriage) Lela Chania in his asset declarations. Mikheil Chinchaladze had failed to declare significant real estate holdings (apartments and garages in Tbilisi, Vera) registered to his aunt.

Publication date: 7 August 2022

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3STXtpB, OCCRP - https://bit.ly/3NwIDo0

• Allegations of the Prosecutor’s Office illegally assisting a politically connected businessman

The journalist investigation describes how the Prosecutor's Office is illegally disputing ownership of land of 20 families in Sairme in favor of Temur Kokhidze, owner of the Sairme resort and a businessman with close ties to the ruling party. Kokhodze’s companies (Tegeta Motors) receive multi-million value state contracts every year and regularly donate to the ruling Georgian Dream party. Kokhodze denies the accusation. According to the investigation, the Mayor of Baghdati municipality Kakha Enukidze was also involved in the negotiation with the locals representing the interests of Kokhodze.

TI Georgia has previously (2012) written about Kokhodze’s alleged attempts to get hold of properties in Sairme through political connections. In 2010, 20 local entrepreneurs in Sairme gifted their real estate to the state over a period of one week, after which the properties were registered under the ownership of Temur Kokhodze's company. Kokhodze denied allegations. At the time, Kokhodze and his companies were major donors to the former ruling party United National Movement.

Publication date:  22 July 2022

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3tfLXKP, TI Georgia - https://bit.ly/3Hh3kTz

• Mobilizing voters in favor of the ruling party by illegal means

Based on the joint research by TI Georgia and ISFED, a large-scale scheme of mobilizing voters in favor of the ruling party by illegal means was identified, which provides evidence of the use of state agencies (including law enforcement agencies) for election/party purposes. Personal information about employees of budgetary organizations and other citizens was allegedly collected through these agencies, to put pressure on them in the future. In addition, in exchange for support in the elections, citizens were provided with pre-requested and other types of benefits through various state agencies.

Publication date: 21 July 2022

Source: TI Georgia and International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) - https://bit.ly/3sOetDd

• Company with links to the Georgian Dream wins tenders in Imereti

Tenders in the municipalities of Zestaponi, Terjola, and Baghdati are won by Borani LLC, a company with links to the Georgian Dream. Borani LLC is owned by the family of Terjola Municipal Council deputy chairperson Nino Chkhikvadze and its shareholders are ruling party donors. From 2013 to July 12, 2022, the company obtained tenders and simplified procurement contracts worth GEL 34,970,860.

Publication date: 20 July 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yWV719

• Alleged corrupt deals between public officials and high-ranking clerics

The journalist investigation, based on secret surveillance documents leaked from the State Security Service, describes how certain high-ranking clerics, with the help of high-ranking government officials and in return for compensation, were able to obtain plea bargain agreements or early release of certain persons convicted of serious crimes. Eight cases are described in the investigation and the names of the following government officials are mentioned: former Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani, former Deputy Minister of Justice Aleksandre Tabatadze, Prosecutor General Irakli Shotadze, and former Minister of Economy Dimitri Kumsishvili.

Publication date: 14 May 2022

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3RPs6NA, https://bit.ly/3RLToV0

• Alleged political corruption involving MP Giorgi Volski

According to the story, the companies owned by Amiran Manjavidze, a close friend and classmate of MP Giorgi (Gia) Volski, are purportedly securing rigged public procurement contracts. Manjavidze's previous company was blacklisted for failing to meet tender conditions. Subsequently, he established a new company. Since the new company lacked experience, the tender requirements were modified, eliminating the previous prerequisite of 10 years of experience. Interestingly, Giorgi Volski's wife is currently employed in one of Manjavidze's companies.

Publication date: 14 May 2022

Source: TV Pirveli

• Revolving door and alleged corruption in Borjomi municipality

When Piran Gogichaishvili, the owner of Mshenebloba da Proektireba LLC (Construction and Design LLC), was appointed to a position in the Borjomi City Council in 2018, he transferred his company to Vasil Mchedlidze for free. In 2022, after his term expired, the former City Council member reclaimed the company. Between 2018 and 2021, Construction and Design LLC and sole entrepreneur Vasil Mchedlidze received GEL 2,203,460 through 52 public procurement contracts awarded by the Borjomi municipality.

Publication date: 6 May 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3PItaAV

• Signs of corruption Senaki Municipality procurement

TI Georgia wrote in February 2021 about the procurements of Dato Adamia, a former member of the Senaki City Council. Shortly after our publication, Adamia formally transferred his shares in Dagi LLC, a company with a history of involvement in public procurement worth up to 7 million GEL, free of charge and changed the company name to Menati LLC. Since then, the company has received procurement contracts worth 1,4 mln GEL, most of which were signed while Adamia was still a council member. Dato Adamia is presumably trying to hide his ties with the company.

Publication date: 6 April 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yYNTcW, https://bit.ly/3c6r9NE

• Allegations of Tbilisi City Hall giving illegal construction permits to far-right leaders

The journalist investigation describes how the Architecture Service of Tbilisi City Hall allegedly gave illegal construction permits to Konstantine Morgoshia, one of the leaders of a far-right group Alt Info and political party Conservative Movement / Alt Info, and his brother Giorgi, who managed to obtain permits that were previously turned down multiple times. Secret surveillance documents leaked from the State Security Service in 2021 also implicate Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze in the granting of illegal permits to these individuals.

Publication date:  3 April 2022

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty - https://bit.ly/3S7UOtB;  TV Mtavari – https://bit.ly/3htkYZn; Squander Detector – https://bit.ly/3DVYTdw; TV Formula – https://bit.ly/3NSwZnx

• Suspicious procurements of Chkhorotsku Municipality

Chkhorotsku City Hall awarded Salome 92 LLC, a company founded 2 months prior, a single-source procurement contract worth GEL 207,197. The owners of the company are Salome and Jambul Papava, a father and daughter with links to the Georgian Dream ruling party. Since 2012, they obtained municipal procurements worth a total of GEL 1,080,842 in Chkhorotsku municipality.

Publication date: 31 March, 2022

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3OoUu64

• Companies of a member of the Tskaltubo City Council obtain public procurement contracts worth GEL 63 million

Companies of a member of the Tskaltubo City Council, Jeiran Omanadze – J and J Ltd and Rostverki Ltd – received a total of GEL 63,039,857 through 100 tenders and 11 simplified public procurements since 2013. Jeiran Omanadze is also a political donor – he and his company, Rostverki Ltd, donated GEL 135,000 to the Georgian Dream in the years 2017-2021.

Publication date: 24 March 2022

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/HkFV

• Companies of a former member of Batumi City Council obtain public procurements in Adjara

Companies (Adjarganateba and Ganateba) owned by the family of Irakli Topuridze, former member of Batumi City Council from the Georgian Dream party obtained GEL 66,844,339 from local public procurement in 2011-2022. 91% of this amount was obtained without competition or through the disqualification of competitors.

Publication date: 22 March 2022

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/D96TZ, https://t.ly/_skA

• Alleged corruption in the public procurement of Borjomi Municipality

My Town LLC and sole entrepreneur Shorena Tabagari, who are linked to the former Head of the Infrastructure Service of the Borjomi City Hall, have received GEL 4,117,864 from 68 public procurements in the years 2014-2021. Out of this, they received GEL 2,162,992 (52% of the total amount) without competition and by means of disqualification of competitors.

Publication date: 18 March 2022

Source: TI Georgia - https://t.ly/lWb6I

• A well connected company Ili Group LLC receiving large government contracts despite failing to fulfill them

Journalist investigation describes the case of a company called Ili Group LLC, a major donor for the ruling party (total donations of 350,000 GEL by shareholders), which is allegedly backed by the deputy head of the State Security Service, Giga Nikoleishvili. The company keeps winning multi-million dollar government tenders with ease across the country (more than 123 million GEL in total), despite failing to fulfill past obligations. For example: according to one piece of journalist investigation, the company violated the contract for feeding prisoners 29 times, but was neither blacklisted, nor was the contract annulled. Soon after, the company received an additional 10 million GEL government contract.

Publication date: 7 February 2022

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3PKJUHI, https://bit.ly/3RPQfUh

• Suspicious transfer of a forest to a company run by the wife of the former mayor of Tbilisi Davit Narmania

According to the journalist investigation, the wife of former Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania was put in charge of a company, which, two months prior and only a few days after being registered, had won an auction without facing competition granting it a 40 year lease on a 10-hectare plot of land in Tbilisi National Park.

Publication date: 28 January 2022

Source: Netgazeti – https://bit.ly/363F5aY

• The mother of the Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze received state property in suspicious circumstances

Journalist investigation describes how Tbilisi City Hall sold a plot of land located in a recreation zone in Kiketi to a company (Kiketi Development LLC) owned by the mother of the Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze for much cheaper than the estimated price, without any investment obligation. On the purchase agreement with the National Agency of State Property, the signatory from the company's side is Galaktion Buadze, who worked as the director of the Municipal Development Fund in 2016-2018, the first deputy of which used to be Juansher Burchuladze.

Publication date: 22 January 2022

Source: TV Formula – https://bit.ly/3IUTs0I

Alleged abuse of power by Prime Minister Gharibashvili for the purpose of appropriation of state property

The journalist investigation alleges that Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili abused his authority to obtain a 49 year lease on almost 6,000 square meters of forest adjacent to his house in Bakuriani for his wife Nunu Tamazashvili.

About 1 year after the leasing of the forest, the territory is fenced with barbed wire, contrary to the requirements imposed by the contract.

Publication date: 22 January 2022

Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3sK8oHv; https://bit.ly/43BTTH7, OC Media – https://bit.ly/3HQovtj

• A suspicious case of transfer of a forest to the relative of a ruling party MP Nino Tsilosani

According to the journalist investigation, the company of Omar Khatiashvili, a relative of the ruling party MP and former chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Nino Tsilosani, received 8 hectares of forest in Kvareli under suspicious circumstances. Omar Khatiashvili is the husband of Nino Tsilosani's cousin and business partner Gvantsa Tsilosani.

Publication date: 22 January 2022

Source: Studio Monitor/ adio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3Jrx4ey

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2021

• Undocumented assets of the Attorney General and his deputies

The journalistic investigation shows the property registered in the name of the Prosecutor General, Irakli Shotadze and his wife. Shotadze's declaration omits expenses related to the substantial renovations and furnishings of their Tbilisi apartment, allegedly exceeding his official income. Furthermore, a construction permit granted in Tsavkisi, under Shotadze's wife's name, indicates plans for the construction of a lavish private residence by the Prosecutor General.

Investigative journalists have uncovered discrepancies between the declared income and the assets of Deputy Prosecutor General Giorgi Gabitashvili and Giorgi Badashvili, revealing that the value of their assets surpasses their reported earnings.

Source: TV Mtavari - 15.05.2021; TV Pirveli - 27.11.2021.

• Companies belonging to Georgian Dream donors and public officials receive subsidies through state programs in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Companies belonging to Georgian Dream members and donors, as well as family members of current and former public officials, receive state procurement in addition to the subsidies from the state program. In 2018-2020, 17 such entities within the framework of Enterprise Georgia received approximately GEL 2,240,794 (one-third of the amount spent in the region within the program). Among them, 9 entities received GEL 4,733,891 from state procurements at various times. 7 out of 17 entities donated 594,400 GEL to Georgian Dream.

Publication date: 17 December 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3RSc1qw

• Alleged corruption case in the judiciary

The journalist investigation describes the failure of justice reform in Georgia and its consequences. As an example, an interview is shown with a Swiss investor Ronald Waldmann (Basel LLC), who states that: "Specific high-ranking officials asked us to pay millions of GEL so that the court review of our case could be continued and finally resolved. Because of this, we had to involve the embassies of Switzerland and other countries so that we would not have to pay a bribe to continue the review of the case."

Publication date: 4 December 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3b3RPRL, https://bit.ly/3czYAv9

• Influence peddling by high-ranking officials for the benefit of influential clerics

The journalist investigation describes 4 cases of influential clerics allegedly using their connections with high-ranking government officials to receive certain benefits and make corrupt deals: 1. Judge Levan Murusidze allegedly assisting a cleric regarding shares in a company; 2. Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi Irakli Bendeliani allegedly helping a cleric obtain a construction permit; 3. MPs Sozar Subari and Irakli Kadagishvili allegedly assisting a cleric in solving problems regarding his son failing to fulfill public procurement obligations; 4. Former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze and Governor Besik Amiranashvili allegedly assisting an influential cleric.

Publication date: 23 October 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3PIhnTT, https://bit.ly/3zqvLdJ

• Alleged attempt of ruling party MPs to influence court decisions

A journalist investigation, based on leaked surveillance documents from the State Security Service, describes how it appears that Georgian Dream MPs over the phone are requesting specific outcomes on certain court cases. As it turns out from the story, Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Kovzanadze and Paata Kvizhinadze, with the help of their colleague, now former MP Vano Zardiashvili, are influencing the final decisions of the court. MP Mamuka Mdinaradze also appears to have an influence on this process.

Publication date: 25 September 2021

Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3PGcpXd, TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3aUNfoV

• Alleged case of forced political donation

According to a media report, which was based on an anonymous source, the governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti region and the regional heads of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Ministry of Finance had instructed local businessmen to donate to the ruling party. TI Georgia verified the information and indeed found an unusual concentration of donations from Samtskhe-Javakheti over a short period of time (87 individuals and 5 legal entities donated GEL 714,000 to the ruling party in August 2-16).

Publication date: 22 August 2021

Source: TV Mtavari – https://bit.ly/3HP5ozz, TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3GW1T9C

• Tender Announced by Georgian Railway Restricts Competition

JSC Georgian Railway announced a tender worth GEL 52.8m to procure mainline rails and requested that the suppliers provide certificates established by the Eurasian Customs Union founded by Russia. Only one company, Uni-2 LLC, made a bid. Uni-2 matched the amount of its bid exactly with that of the tender – GEL 52,799,117. The participation of only one supplier in a tender worth GEL 52.8m raises suspicions about whether the invitation to bid issued by Georgian Railway restricted competition and whether the tender was “tailored to fit” a specific supplier. The suspicions are solidified by the fact that TI Georgia received a letter from GSL Steel Trad GmbH, an Austrian company, whose representatives believe that competition had been artificially restricted in case of this tender.

Publication date: 5 August 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3xUcaOO

• Fish processing facilities in Poti - Political Connections and Ecological Problems

Environmental problems in Poti are related to the fish processing companies. The owners of these companies are current and former high-ranking officials, related to the government. They made a political donation of GEL 783 100 and are funded by state subsidy programs.

Publication date: 23 July 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3sn37oH

• The plots of land in Ninotsminda central park were registered into the ownership of the government-related persons

The park located in the center of Ninotsminda, which used to be a public space, was gradually registered in private ownership. It is noteworthy that the owners of 2,840 sq/m of land became current and former local government officials, their family members, the persons closely related to them, and the representatives of the companies, which were receiving simplified procurements solely from Ninotsminda city hall and its legal entities for many years.

Publication date: 8 July 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/2VYwfpQ

• Privileges granted to relatives of Bidzina Ivanishvili

The journalist investigation alleges a conflict of interests of the Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Iuri Nozadze, a relative of former PM and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. More specifically, companies belonging to Nozadze’s brother (pig farm in Racha, brick factory in Kaspi and ham production in Racha) received ample funding from the state budget, Partnership Fund, and Enterprise Georgia; the companies also had penalties lifted.

Publication date: 26 June 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3cyiS8q, https://bit.ly/3OlTL5O

• Revolving Door Case in Senaki Municipality

Nana Zarandia has held the position of the head of the Legal Department of Senaki City Hall since 2014 and she became the head of the Administrative Department in 2018. On February 8, 2019, Zarandia left the city hall and was appointed as a director of JSC Archaeopolis, where she worked until June 12, 2020. During this period, her company won 6 tenders and 1 simplified procurement from Senaki municipality worth GEL 6,054,373 in total. All seven contracts are signed by Nana Zarandia in the name of JSC Archaeopolis.

Publication date: 25 June 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3yy5R46

• Financial interests of a former Georgian MP - Jumber Izoria in Chkhorotsku

The technical inspection of vehicles in Chkhorotsku is provided by Togeni LTD, which is owned by the family of a former MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party - Jumber Izoria. Simplified procurements on vehicle repair and spare parts are won by Jumber Izoria’s friend, Tsabu Gogua, who received GEL 257, 987 worth of tenders and simplified procurements in total. It is noteworthy that Tsabu Gogua did not have competitors in 12 out of 13 tenders and received one contract at the expense of disqualifying his competitor, whose bid was smaller than one of Gogua’s.

Publication date: 24 June 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3wn8jJi

• People convicted for corruption receive state procurements in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Four persons convicted for violations in the state procurements and unlawful misappropriation of budget funds received GEL 7 442 197 from 80 state procurements. Receiving millions of GEL from public procurement by people convicted of corruption contradicts both the best international practice in the field of procurement and the recommendations of Georgia's partner international organizations.

Publication date: 18 June 2021

Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/2TOdnce

• Suspicious public procurements Chkhorotsku Municipality

Persons associated with Chkhorotsku Mayor Dato Gogua, more specifically the brother and father of Nestan Karchava, the mayor's representative in the village of Khabume, have been winning local tenders under suspicious circumstances - disqualification of competitors and frequent changes in the contract value. Karchavas have received tenders and single-source procurements worth GEL 3,377,519 since 2011.

Publication date: 24 May 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yO13IV

• Multimillion state procurement contract wins as company aligns with Bidzina Ivanishvili

In 2018, after Otar Tateshvili, the owner of LLC Arali, who was found guilty of embezzling money from state procurement in the past, sold a piece of land to Bidzina Ivanishvili in Abastumani and became involved in projects funded by the Cartu Foundation (Ivanishvili being its beneficial owner), the company started receiving considerably larger public procurement contracts. LLC Arali received GEL 51.5 million in the previous 7 years, while during the 2.5 years after the land transaction with Ivanishvili, the company won contracts worth GEL 125.4 million. The company won many of these tenders based on the disqualification of competitors.

Publication date: 22 May 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3ySns7W

• Allegations of corruption against Bidzina Ivanishvili’s nephew and his business partner

The investigation alleges that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s nephew (Emzar Ivanishvili) and his business partner (Grigol Khurtsidze) have used their connections to obtain problematic construction permits on three separate occasions.

Publication date: 15 May 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/2RRH6R4, https://bit.ly/2R8Wx71

• Procurement-related conflict of interests of Kutaisi Deputy Mayor

A business partner of the Deputy Mayor of Kutaisi, Iuza Ugulava, won 5 tenders (294,545 GEL) from Kutaisi City Hall, mostly without competition. The head of the tender commission was Iuza Ugulava himself, who did not take any steps to avoid having a conflict of interests.

Publication date: 13 May 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3fWbmlN

• Allegations of misuse of authority and corruption in the process of issuing construction permits in Tbilisi

The investigation alleges that high-ranking public officials (Chair of the Competition Agency Irakli Lekvinadze and Deputy Minister of Finance Mikheil Dundua) and Georgian Dream party donors (shareholder of LLC Lisi Hills Mikheil Japaridze) have been granted problematic construction permits in the area adjacent to Lisi lake in Tbilisi, while local residents are left facing red tape.

Publication date: 17 April 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3g0hKIr, https://bit.ly/3vD9ZPs

• Allegations against Georgian Dream MP hindering an investigation

The journalist investigation alleges that a Georgian Dream MP Isko Dasen has used his influence to hinder an ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office of a scam currency trading company LLC Vip Trade, which used to be owned by two of his sons.

Publication date: 3 April 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3i7s9oy, https://bit.ly/2SFPvqE

• Procurement-related conflict of interests in Batumi City Council

A company (LLC Trading Service) formerly belonging to Irakli Pataridze, chair of the Education and Culture Commission of the Batumi City Council, which he gifted to his brother-in-law Gocha Abuselidze, receives public procurement contracts from those non-profit legal entities under Batumi City Hall, which Pataridze himself oversees.

Publication date: 19 March 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3iajLEL

• Corruption risks involving in competition-free procurements in Kobuleti Municipality

The director of Georgian Stone, LLC is Badri Romanadze, former head of Kobuleti Municipality Architecture Service (2011-2014). The company received GEL 24.6 million from Kobuleti Municipality procurements in 2015-2020. The company wins tenders worth millions amid the disqualification of competitors and frequent changes to signed contracts.

Publication date: 3 February 2021

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2SH4Mrp, https://bit.ly/3o4LMwO

• Alleged corruption in the government grape subsidy program

According to the investigation, the government grape subsidy program has been changed to fit the interests of companies that have donated to the ruling party and companies directly associated with Bidzina Ivanishvili (through his brother - Alexander Ivanishvili, and cousin - Ucha Mamatsashvili).

Publication date: 23 January 2021

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3sFiwQc, https://bit.ly/3eALkoO

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2020

• Alleged corruption in procurement contracts received by Poti Mayor's business partner

After Gocha Kurdghelia was elected mayor of Poti in 2017, the company of his business partner and friend Ramaz Gujabidze - LLC Khalib started receiving significantly more single-source procurement contracts from Poti municipal legal entities, raising questions about possible corruption.

Publication date: 7 December 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2TmrbKI

• Alleged undue influence over the second instance court

The investigation describes a possible undue influence over the second instance court which backtracked on its initial decision to grant the appeal of a German investor Richard Saller against JSC Bank of Georgia, involving embezzlement of USD 7 million by local partner Iberia Business Group, headed by former Minister of Sport Tariel Khechikashvil. The investigation mentions that the presiding judge Mzia Todua used to head the Legal Department at JSC Cartu Bank (belonging to Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family).

Publication date: 17 October 2020

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3fmQbui, https://bit.ly/3ry6Z4O

• Alleged corruption in the public procurement of Shida Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti municipalities

The companies of former high-ranking officials from Shida Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti (Avtandil Kachkachishvili and Giorgi Baliashvili) and large donors to Georgian Dream (Nugzar and Nukri Abalaki) – Sagzao Samsheneblo Sammartvelo No 1, LLC and Sagzao Samsheneblo Sammartvelo No 2, LLC – were granted procurements worth over GEL 200m in 2011-2020, mostly without competition.

Publication date: 7 October 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3sH7Hha

• Signs of corruption in the public procurement of Kakheti municipalities

The analysis of procurements made by eight municipalities in Kakheti (over GEL 167m in 2013-2020) revealed that, frequently, the tenders are won and simplified procurement contracts are awarded to the companies with connections to incumbent or former public officials (in 17 cases among 58 entities). Out of 52 LLCs, 32 started being awarded simplified procurement contracts and winning competition-free tenders soon after being established, in some cases – within several days.

Publication date: 6 October 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/38Y3LR9

• Allegations of law enforcement inaction against ruling party-associated businessman

The investigation describes an alleged case of politically backed pressure being applied to a private company Iberia LLC by business partners of Giorgi Kapanadze, a businessman with close ties to the ruling Georgian Dream party. According to the investigation, law enforcement authorities have repeatedly turned a blind eye to the company’s troubles. 

Publication date: 1 October 2020

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/2Ot8e6Z

• Alleged rigging of a major public procurement tender by Tbilisi City Hall

The investigation describes how Tbilisi City Hall announced a GEL 30 million tender on purchasing minibusses in which it allegedly excluded qualified bidders by using unreasonable participation requirements. As a result, the tender was won by a ruling party donor company.

Publication date: 13 September 2020

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3l9Vjml

• Alleged corruption/Revolving Door case of former officials Securing major government contracts

The investigation describes how Parvus Group LLC a company established by two former high-ranking officials (Sulkhan Zumburidze and Mamuka Papuashvili) of a state-owned enterprise JSC Georgian State Electrosystem shortly after their resignation was granted major government contracts worth a total of GEL 19 million without competition and through various other suspicious circumstances.

Publication date: 18 August 2020

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/2N9NnoE

• TV station of the deputy chair of Ninotsminda Municipal Council wins local tenders without competition

Deputy Chairperson of Ninotsminda Council Konstantin Vardanian’s TV and Radio Station Parvana has received GEL 320,645 from Ninotsminda’s procurement budget since 2014 when Vardanian received his appointment. After Vardanian assumed his post, Parvana also received a property of 273 sq. m in Ninotsminda free of charge from the city hall.

Publication date: 17 July 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/39LYpYw

• Alleged corruption in the state of emergency public procurements

TI Georgia examined the public procurements made during the state of emergency (21 March – 22 May 2020) and uncovered 21 specific procurements showing links between donations made to the ruling party and contracts won. Among them, there are two procurements when contracts with companies were signed only a few days after they had made donations. These companies are Kvarlis Edemi, LLC, and K da Kartuli Spirti, LLC.

Publication date: 7 July 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3bVyOiH

• Suspicious enrichment of companies associated with the head of the State Security Service

The investigation describes how major ruling party donor companies associated with Bichiko Paikidze, a friend and relative of Grigol Liluashvili, head of the Georgian State Security Service (and former head of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Group), received government contracts of more than GEL 100 million.

Publication date: 27 June 2020

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3w6QC1E, https://bit.ly/3l3Ej18

• Suspicious public tenders received by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s relative in Imereti

Bidzina Ivanishvili’s relative Murman Togonidze (Msheninvesti, LLC and individual entrepreneur) has since 2014 received GEL 16,395,501 from the budgets of various municipalities of Imereti through public procurement. He won the highest number of procurements in Sachkhere Municipality.

Publication date: 18 June 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3nY83MJ

• Signs of corruption in the Tbilisi City Hall procurements related to New Year celebrations

There were signs of adapted tenders and corruption in Tbilisi City Hall’s procurements related to the New Year’s events of 2019 (GEL 6.6m). There is a suspicion that the New Year’s procurements were adapted to the Italian company IDO SRL which has been receiving public contracts without competition for years.

Publication date: 6 June 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3qz7BWY

• Business interests of Giorgi Zedelashvili’s family members in the construction of hydroelectric power plants and roads

The circumstances surrounding the construction of two hydroelectric power plants in Kakheti raise a suspicion that favorable conditions may have been created artificially for the companies connected to Giorgi Zedelashvili (former first deputy secretary of the State Security and Crisis Management Council).

Publication date: 28 May 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2LPDs6X

• Companies associated with Samtskhe-Javakheti public officials receive tenders in Samtskhe-Javakheti

After the election of Akhaltsikhe Mayor Zaza Melikidze, his brother Tamaz Melikidze (Nukia, LLC) and sister-in-law Nana Maisuradze (N(N)LP Satnoebis Sakhli) have been winning tenders in Akhaltsikhe Municipality. After the election of Aspindza Council Chairperson Mamuka Melikidze, his brother Malkhaz Melikidze (XXI Century, JSC) started winning tenders in Aspindza Municipality.

Publication date: 8 May 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2M4k85Y

• Alleged cornering of the re-export market with the involvement of high-ranking officials

The investigation describes how companies operating transit trucks from Turkey through Georgia are being extorted in favor of a Russian businessman Felix Khudoev allegedly with the help of the LEPL Revenue Service and other high-ranking officials in the government, who create artificial barriers at the Georgia-Turkey border.

Publication date: 28 April 2020

Source: Netgazeti – https://netgazeti.ge/news/447571/

• Alleged illicit enrichment of Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili

The investigation describes how the current Prime Minister (and former Defense and Interior Minister) Irakli Gharibashvili, has failed to disclose his collection of expensive watches worth more than GEL 0.5 mln in his asset declarations, pointing to signs of illicit enrichment.

Publication date: 22 April 2020

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3l8xoDQ

• Alleged favoritism in a Partnership Fund investment project

The investigation describes a GEL 7 mln investment project of questionable profitability funded by Georgia’s state-run Partnership Fund and received through possible favoritism by Global Brand, a company run by Levan Gachechiladze, who has personal ties with Partnership Fund head Davit Saganelidze and former PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Publication date: 29 February 2020

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/2PemLnB, https://bit.ly/2OJzZYY

• Suspicious enrichment of Aleksandre Chikaidze

Former Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Chikaidze managed to accumulate considerable assets soon after leaving public office, which was accompanied by a number of suspicious circumstances.

Publication date: 28 February 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3sEw1QJ

• Suspicious public tenders received by the company Giorgi Zedelashvili’s mother

The company owned by the mother of Giorgi Zedelashvili, former first deputy secretary of the State Security and Crisis Management Council, Roads Construction and Repair Company “Serpantini” started winning large tenders in 2013 (over GEL 105 million in Kakheti region alone). The suspicious circumstances include: disqualified competitors, terminated tenders, and tenders without competition.

Publication date: 17 February 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2M4TWYL

• Suspicious public tenders received by companies associated with former MP Enzel Mkoian

Three companies owned by the children, brother and uncle of Enzel Mkoian, former MP elected from the single-seat district of Akhalkalaki-Ninotsminda, received GEL 2,312,278 from the budget in fuel procurement in Javakheti in 2010-2019. Enzel Mkoian himself purchased fuel for his single-seat district MP Bureau only from his family’s companies.

Publication date: 30 January 2020

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3ir1i52

• Alleged rigging of a state-owned real estate privatization auction

The investigation describes how a state-owned historic building and surrounding piece of land were privatized to a company registered just 2 hours before the privatization auction was announced, suggesting that the privatization auction was rigged.

Publication date: 17 January 2020

Source: Business Media Georgia – https://bit.ly/2OV4FGN

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2019

• Business partner of Sagarejo Municipal Council chair received GEL 1.4m from Sagarejo Municipal procurements

A business partner of Sagarejo Municipal Council Chairperson Otar Chalatashvili, Otar Buzariashvili (Akhali Kompania 2018, LLC), received GEL 1.4m from the procurements of Sagarejo Municipality, of which GEL 1,336,748 was received through simplified procurement procedures.

Publication date: 16 December 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2LNtza1

• Alleged corruption in Sighnaghi Municipality procurements

Ivane Mirianashvili has been the chairperson of the Georgian Dream faction at Sighnaghi Municipality Council since 2017. The companies owned by his son, Davit Mirianashvili, and persons close to him (Seivoni, LLC, M.S.Msheni, LLC, Inter Plus, LLC, Orba 7, LLC, TNC, LLC and Tsotne, LLC) received procurement contracts worth GEL 5.3m in 2013-2019.

Publication date: 27 November 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/390OGi4

• Alleged corruption in the procurement of meat by the Ministry of Defense

The investigation alleges that the method of procuring meat for Georgian soldiers was changed to exclude local production in favor of imported meat, after which a company fully owned by the daughter of the former Georgian Dream Member of Parliament Goderdzi Bukia became the sole supplier. The investigation also includes serious allegations about the quality of the meat.

Publication date: 17 November 2019

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3rpQtCX, https://bit.ly/2N6bPqY

• Company of the Advisor to the Akhaltsikhe mayor wins local tenders

The company Mshenebeli 2004 owned by Gelvasi Geladze, advisor to Akhaltsikhe Mayor Zaza Melikidze (on the issues of infrastructure) is winning competition-free tenders of Akhaltsikhe Municipality. Gelvasi Geladze simultaneously was (and remains) a member of the tender and delivery and acceptance commissions, supervisor of ongoing projects as well as the implementing party.

Publication date: 21 October 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3p591YQ

• Business partner of Tsalenjikha Municipal Council chair wins competition-free tenders in Tsalenjikha

Since Temur Ghvinjilia assumed the post of the chairperson of Tsalenjikha Municipal Council, his business partner Bagrat Ghvinjilia (Tsalenjikhis Sagzao Sammartvelo, LLC) has been winning tenders (over GEL 5m) announced by Tsalenjikha Municipality without competition.

Publication date: 1 October 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2LHPtLY

• Suspicious public tenders received by companies associated with former MP Ioseb Makrakhidze

The companies connected to Makrakhidze and his family members (Ibolia, LLC; daughter Ophelia Makrakhidze – Shara, LLC; Brother Aleksandre Makrakhidze – ArkMshenStudia 2002, LLC) received over GEL 91.8 through tenders after his nomination as a candidate from the single-seat district of Gori.

Publication date: 2 September 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3o1tw7m

• Companies of the Mayor of Akhaltsikhe win local tenders

After Zaza Melikidze was elected mayor of Akhaltsikhe in 2015, the companies he owns or owned in the past (Meliza, LLC and Meskheti XXI, LLC) started being awarded public procurement contracts by Akhaltsikhe Municipality.

Publication date: 15 July 2019

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3qBtNQb

• Alleged illicit enrichment of a former Deputy Minister of Justice

The investigation describes the suspicious enrichment, undisclosed assets and luxurious real estate of Aleksandre Tabatadze, current MP and former Deputy Minister of Justice.

Publication date: 11 May 2019

Source: Rustavi 2 – https://rustavi2.ge/ka/news/133095

• Undeclared real estate of high-ranking public officials

The investigation identifies three high-ranking public officials who have failed to declare pieces of real estate in their asset declarations and points to signs of unsubstantiated income. These officials are: Dimitri Kumsishvili, former Minister of Economy and Vice PM; Mikheil Chinchaladze Chairman of Tbilisi Court of Appeal; and Lela Chikovani Deputy Minister of Defense

Publication date: 9 March 2019

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3rnNhrv, https://bit.ly/3qEdFNo

• Tender won by the Director of the municipal company

Three companies where Badri Nemsadze, Director of the Municipal Transport of Zugdidi, and his spouse, Ekaterine Keburia, are shareholders win tenders announced by the Zugdidi Municipality.

In the years 2011-2018, procuring organizations concluded contracts with a total value of GEL 692,223 with three companies through tenders (59 tenders with a value of GEL 567,188) and direct procurements (125 direct procurements with a value of GEL 125,035). In addition, these companies received an income of GEL 431,106 during the period when Badri Nemsadze or his spouse was its shareholder/director.

Publication date: 18 February 2019

Source: TI Georgia - https://shorturl.at/aqNPY

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2018

• Corruption Allegations against Bolnisi Mayor

According to the investigation, Bolnisi Mayor Davit Sherazadishvili’s relatives and friends have been receiving municipal contracts worth several million without competition. Sherazadishvili has family ties with Aleksandre Tabatadze, former Deputy Head of the State Security Service.

Publication date: 15 December 2018

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3d9wYd0, https://bit.ly/3evKolU

• Former companies of the head of the Supervision Service at Zugdidi City Hall win tenders

The former company of Lasha Jaiani, the head of the Supervision and Architecture Service at Zugdidi City Hall - Euromsheni 999 - won 39 tenders in 2016-2018, with a total value of 1,628,151 GEL. Additionally, the company secured a simplified procurement contract with Zugdidi City Hall, amounting to 29,773 GEL.

During this period, Lasha Jaiani served as a member of the tender commission for 27 out of the 35 tenders won. However, he explicitly stated, with his signature, that there was no conflict of interest between himself and Euromsheni 999 LLC. Prior to this, the company had not participated in any state tenders.

Publication date: 13 December 2018

Source: TI Georgia

• Undeclared House Construction Expenses by the Defense Minister

In 2013-2018, then Defence Minister Levan Izoria built two houses but, in violation of the law, failed to indicate the related expenses in his asset declaration. Furthermore, the origins of these expenses raise questions.

Publication date: 11 December 2018

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2KyV5Yg

• An alleged case of Mass Vote-buying

After the first round of the 2018 presidential election, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Foundation promised 600,000 voters to write off their debts. It was a clear case of voter bribery and misuse of administrative resources since the Government of Georgia was actively involved in the process of fulfilling this promise.

Publication date: 19 November 2018

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3sG8C1o

• Alleged corruption of JSC Georgian Railway in the transfer of oil products to Armenia

The investigation alleges that JSC Georgian Railway, a state-owned enterprise, has made an illegal agreement with Lukoil Georgia, which used to be headed by the former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze, to restrict all other companies from transporting oil products through Georgia to Armenia.

Publication date: 20 October 2018

Source: Studio Monitor/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3rurrCR, https://bit.ly/3viCCBF

• Alleged illicit enrichment of MPs and Ministers

The investigation describes undisclosed and/or luxurious real estate owned by high-ranking government officials that raises questions of illicit enrichment: Levan Izoria, former Defence Minister; Mikheil Janelidze, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Internal Affairs and former head of the State Security Service; Manana Kobakhidze, Constitutional Court Judge and former Georgian Dream MP; Irakli Sesiashvili, head of the parliamentary committee on defence and security; Zviad Dzidziguri, MP and leader of the conservative faction in Parliament.

Publication date: 13 October 2018

Source: Rustavi 2 – https://bit.ly/30IRxXR, https://rustavi2.ge/ka/news/116029

• The so-called Omega Group case

In September 2018, according to businessman Zaza Okuashvili’s statement and secret audio recordings which were made public, a deal took place between private companies, representatives of different government institutions and influential persons connected to the ruling party leadership, which involved using the powers of public officials to ensure a dominant position on the tobacco market for these companies. The income generated as a result would be distributed between the companies and the groups linked to the ruling party. The names of Vice Prime Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili, Competition Agency head Nodar Khaduri, former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze and ruling party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili were mentioned in the materials.

Publication date: 26 September 2018

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/39NgUM7

• Alleged corruption in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The investigation describes how a company belonging to the brother of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs received a large direct contract from the same ministry the day after the company was registered. The funds in question were transferred to the ministry from the government contingency fund, which is exempt from public procurement legislation, on the same day the company was registered.

Publication date: 4 September 2018

Source: Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) – https://bit.ly/3qHnTg8

• Alleged case of rigged procurement

In 2013-2018, public agencies purchased Russian-made Niva cars worth up to GEL 3m from Global Motors Georgia – GMG, LLC (whose founder Gocha Rostiashvili is a cousin of Shalva Obgaidze, member of Tbilisi City Council from Georgian Dream), mostly through tenders in which they had no competition and whose conditions were, in all likelihood, adapted to fit the company.

Publication date: 18 July 2018

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/39RO5y2

• Alleged cases of corruption in the Ministries of Infrastructure and Economy

In 2018, the Prosecutor’s Office questioned two former ministers: Dimitri Kumsishvili, former Minister of Economy, and Zurab Alavidze, former Minister of Infrastructure. While the Prosecutor’s Office refused to specify the cases under investigation, media reports suggested that Dimitri Kumsishvili was accused of creating favorable conditions in various government programs for his relatives, while Zurab Alavidze was connected to a corruption/revolving door case involving GEL 56 mln of public funds spent by the Roads Department.

Publication date: 18 July 2018

Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3bPL1oF

• Unlawful transfer of property to former chief prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze

In February 2016, the State Audit Office published a conclusion, according to which Tbilisi City Hall unlawfully transferred the property to former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze’s company BSR-CDG Development, which could be the result of a certain corrupt deal.

Publication date: 28 February 2018

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/39NTLt5

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2017

• Alleged corruption at Tbilisi City Hall’s ‘Zoning Council’

As a result of studying the 2014-2017 activities of Tbilisi City Hall’s Regulatory Council on the Use and Development of Territories (so-called “Zoning Council”), many instances of an alleged conflict of interest and corruption were uncovered.

Publication date: 18 October 2017

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2LPC3gH

• Alleged Influence of Otar Danelia on the Sheep Export Industry

The journalist investigation describes the alleged illegal influence of the former Minister of Agriculture (currently, Business Ombudsman) Otar Danelia on the Georgian sheep export industry. Allegedly, the significant decline in the number of companies engaged in Georgian sheep exports was not a result of natural competition but rather attributed to the personal connections between the owners of Viktoria Company and Danelia. This connection facilitated the rapid ascension of Viktoria Company as a major sheep exporter, disadvantaging its competitors. Danelia denies the accusations.

Publication date: 27 May 2017

Source: Studio Monitor – https://bit.ly/3fX5yMC

• Allegations of illicit enrichment of the former Deputy Head of State Security Service

The investigation describes the suspicious enrichment and undisclosed assets of Ioseb Gogashvili, former Deputy Head of the State Security Service.

Publication date: 23 April 2017

Source: Rustavi 2 – https://bit.ly/3ljQiHT

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2016

• Alleged corruption in land management in and around the Tbilisi Botanical Garden

The process of privatization of 29 hectares of land within the recreational zone adjacent to Tbilisi Botanical Garden as well as issuing a special zoning agreement to build a hotel on this and adjacent land plots were essentially fictitious and served to create a legal basis for an earlier, informal decision.

Publication date: 13 May 2016

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3p31ObM

• Alleged Corruption within the Ministry of Culture

A study of the conflict of interests and corruption risks at the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection revealed that companies with direct or indirect links to the minister and other high-ranking officials of the ministry often received budget money/funding from the ministry, bypassing competition and tenders.

Publication date: 6 May 2016

Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3qygKz9