Undeclared property of MPs representing Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Municipalities - საერთაშორისო გამჭვირვალობა - საქართველო
GEO

Undeclared property of MPs representing Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Municipalities

20 January, 2015

Transparency International Georgia continues to monitor asset declarations submitted by public officials.

Our research has revealed that a number of Majoritarian MPs in the national parliament representing Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti region have not fully declared all of their property and business interests in their annually submitted asset declarations.

The mechanisms and legal terms behind the submission of asset declarations by public officials are regulated by the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in the Public Service and the Presidential Edict N22 of January 14, 2010. The latter determines a list of specific public service positions required to fill out asset declaration forms.

Eka Beselia – Majoritarian MP representing Poti: The Civil Service Bureau website does not contain any asset declarations submitted by Eka Beselia. Article 14 of the law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in the Public Service clearly states that a person is obligated to submit a filled out asset declaration form to the Civil Service Bureau within two months after appointment in the civil service. It is possible that this issue is a result of a technical problem. If this is the case, then it should be corrected as soon as possible.

Nauli JanashiaMajoritarian MP representing Martvili Municipality: Nauli Janashia has not fully disclosed all of his real estate in his May 2014 asset declaration. In addition to his declared property, Janashia owns a 43.4 square meter apartment in Bakuriani (Cadastral Code - 64.30.01.393.01.059); a 52.4 square meter apartment on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, Tbilisi (C/C - 01.14.03.001.015.01.034); and a garage on Nutsubidze street, also in Tbilisi (C/C - 01.10.15.006.055.02.039). 

Levan KardavaMajoritarian MP representing Tsalenjikha Municipality: Levan Kardava has not fully declared his and his family’s business interests in his December 2013 asset declaration. In addition to his declared interests, Kardava holds 20% shares in LTD Georgian Innovative Nanotechnologies (ID - 205278466), and is a 100% shareholder of LTD Magana-2004 (ID - 242730103) and LTD Gruppo Via (ID - 242743215). Kardava has transferred his shares and management rights of the final two companies to his wife Maka Mania. 

Vakhtang LemonjavaMajoritarian MP representing Chkhorotsku Municipality: Vakhtang Lemonjava submitted his asset declaration in June 2014, in which he did not report his ownership of a non-agricultural land plot and an attached building with a total area of 342 square meters (C/C - 46.05.02.887) in Lesichine village, Chkhorotsku Municipality.

Viktor JaparidzeMajoritarian MP representing Mestia Municipality: Viktor Japaridze submitted his asset declaration in December 2014, in which he did not report his wife’s Natia Khvistani’s 50% share in LTD Seti (ID - 234178314) and a 17% share in LTD Tir Park Marneuli 2014 (ID - 434161603).

Guram Misabishvili - Majoritarian MP representing Senaki Municipality: Misabishvili submitted his asset declaration on May 22, 2014, in which he did not report his son’s Givi Misabishvili’s ownership of two separate land plots with areas of 2855 square meters (C/C - 44.03.28.155) and 4387 square meters ( C/C - 44.03.28.154), both located in Teklati village, Senaki Municipality. 

Regular submission of asset declarations by public officials is an essential mechanism of transparency and accountability. Therefore, it is vital that public officials always completely fill out their declaration forms. Incomplete submission of asset declarations also poses a risk of corruption. According to Article 355 of the Criminal Code, failure to submit an asset declaration, or inclusion of incomplete or incorrect information in one, is punishable by a fine, community service or, in some cases, dismissal or deprivation of the right to hold a civil service position. In practice, however, these regulations are applied extremely rarely. Transparency International Georgia has repeatedly pointed out that addition monitoring mechanisms need to be created in order to fight corruption more efficiently.

Author: Lela Motsonelidze, Archil Todua