Mayor and entrepreneur: Transparency International calls for dismissal of Georgian officials over business ties

TI identifies 24 officials heading private companies

Transparency International Georgia (TI) has identified 24 serving public officials who simultaneously hold directorships at 30 private companies, in violation of anti-corruption legislation.

The officials include mayors, deputy mayors, heads of municipal councils and representatives of state agencies.

Georgian law prohibits public officials from simultaneously engaging in business activities. TI says officials whose violations are confirmed must be dismissed.

Under the law, newly appointed officials have 10 days to relinquish their positions as directors of commercial organisations. Failure to comply requires them to leave public service.

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According to the list published by Transparency International Georgia, the officials named include:

• Merab Bekaia – deputy head of Tbilisi’s Isani district administration and director of private company Hydraulic Service +.
• Nino Vashakidze – deputy head of Tbilisi City Hall’s Property Management Agency and director of two private companies, Bidara and Il Gudauri.
• Guram Sagaradze – head of the Foreign Ministry’s International Economic Relations Department and director of private company Kospot.
• Shota Andriadze – deputy director of the state-run Municipal Development Fund and director of private company Aipi.
• Tamta Kvelaidze – deputy head of the National Wine Agency and director of private company Wine Events and Consulting.
• Temur Gasviani – deputy minister of justice and civic integration of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and director of private company Strada.
• Archil Jakeli – deputy director of the State Services Agency of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and director of two private companies, Konka and Iveron Construction Company.
• Giorgi Nachkebia – mayor of Martvili and director of private company Buduli.
• Berdia Chankseliani – deputy prosecutor for Ambrolauri, Lentekhi, Oni and Tsageri municipalities and director of private company Chankseliani Marani.
• Mikhail Tarakhchev – deputy director of Adjara’s public broadcaster and director of three private companies, Inform-Mobile Georgia, Mai Kavkasia and Suzhou Machinery and Equipment – Georgia.
• Valentina Naveriani – deputy mayor of Bolnisi and director of private company Levnli.
• Giorgi Dolidze – deputy chair of Tskaltubo Municipal Council and director of private company Victoria.
• Jaba Khozrevanidze – chair of the People’s Power party faction in Adigeni Municipal Council and director of private company Blebi.
• Giorgi Shavreshiani – chair of the People’s Power party faction in Lentekhi Municipal Council and director of private company Tvibi-001.
• Archil Chachanidze – chair of a commission of Khashuri Municipal Council and director of two private companies, Transit Service 888 and Trapizontransport Company.
• Mamuka Sinauridze – deputy chair of the People’s Power party faction in Kutaisi Municipal Council and director of private company Rustaveli Art Group.
• Irakli Dzadzamia – deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in Tsalenjikha Municipal Council and director of private company Global Construction Group.
• Nodar Asatiani – deputy chair of the Georgian Dream party faction in Tskaltubo Municipal Council and director of private company Asani Construction.
• Otar Sulashvili – deputy chair of the Georgian Dream party faction in Tskaltubo Municipal Council and director of private company Prometheus.
• Ucha Khutsishvili – deputy chair of the Georgian Dream party faction in Kazbegi Municipal Council and director of private company Take Energy.
• Giorgi Gibradze – head of Bolnisi City Hall’s Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Department and director of two private companies, G and N Business Group and Pagi.
• Solomon Gorashvili – head of Dedoplistskaro City Hall’s Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Architecture and Construction Department and director of private company Mirzaani.
• Roland Abuladze – head of Khulo City Hall’s Healthcare and Social Protection Department and head of the Adjara Clan cooperative.
• Bidzina Mekvevrishvili – deputy chair of the Georgian Dream party faction in Akhmeta Municipal Council and head of the Magraani agricultural cooperative.

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What the law says

Article 13 of Georgia’s Law on Combating Corruption restricts public officials from engaging in business activities and managing private companies. The aim is to separate public and private economic interests and reduce the risk of conflicts of interest.

At the same time, the law allows public officials to own shares in commercial enterprises, which gives them a different legal status from that of a company director.

Transparency International Georgia argues that simultaneously holding public office and managing a private company creates corruption risks. The organisation calls on the government to take action in accordance with the law.