According to information [1] provided by the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Regional Administration, the largest bonus paid to an individual in 2012 was received by Guram Misabishvili, the former governor of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti. Throughout his 11-month term of office, he earned a total of GEL 46,288, of which GEL 23,144 was in bonuses.

The next largest bonuses after Guram Misabishvili were given to his deputies Erekle Japaridze and Vakhtang Tskhadaia. Each received total payment of GEL 37,687 in 2012, of which GEL 10,687 were bonuses. Another deputy, Davit Kukhaleishvili, received bonuses worth GEL 9,611, from total pay of GEL 20,587

Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti former governor Zaza Gorozia received a payment of GEL 14,621 for his four months in office, of which GEL 7,310 was in bonuses. President Saakashvili appointed Zaza Gorozia to the position of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti governor for a second time on 16 October, 2012. On 11 January, 2013, Gorozia was replaced by Tengiz Gunava, former head of the Inspector General’s Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Another UNM member, David Dartsmelidze (at present a majoritarian MP from Abasha), received GEL 27,193 in total in 2012, with bonuses comprising GEL 8,850 of the overall sum. David Dartsmelidze was appointed as Deputy Governor on 15 November, 2011, and nominated as Abasha majoritarian parliamentary candidate on 29 August, 2012.

David Dartsmelidze worked as Head of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Regional Office of the Constitutional Security Department of the Interior from 2009 until September 2011. He was then transferred to Zugdidi as head of the Zugdidi District Department of Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Regional Main Division of the Ministry of Interior, where he served until November 2011.

According to information provided by the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Regional Administration, the total wages paid by the administration to 67 employees in the year 2012 amounted to GEL 748,804 of which GEL 230,096 were paid in bonuses.

This tradition of granting excessive bonuses is, apparently, still being practiced by the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti Regional Administration, and it can be seen in almost every institution of the executive branch. The legislative requirements for granting bonuses have been ignored: bonuses should be given to civil servants based on merit, as specified by a relevant order. Bonuses should not be awarded automatically.

In the near future, Transparency International Georgia will be publishing more information on official salaries and bonuses granted by the Samegrelo - Zemo Svaneti District Administrative Authorities, and the Poti Mayor's Office.