One-third of Georgian MPs are engaged in business

Members of the parliament of Georgia own business assets which have not been specified in declarations but are engaged in business, which is forbidden by the country’s legislation.

This is a conclusion made by the NGO Transparency International – Georgia, which studied the activities of members of parliament and published this report.

The report states that out of 150 MPs, 51 are connected to businesses and are actively engaged in production and manufacturing.

Sixteen MPs have undeclared business assets. Of those, 14 of them are members of the Georgian Dream party and two belong to the opposition party, Alliance of Patriots.

Moreover, several deputies had business interests in companies which participate in tenders.

Three companies connected to MPs have participated in privatization processes over the course of this year. They are all members of the ruling party.

For example, the majoritarian MP from Georgian Dream, Kakhaber Okriashvili, concluded an agreement to the amount of GEL 16 million 585 thousand in accordance with the conditions of a tender he won.

Moreover, MPs actively participate in activities that are not compatible with their status: managing enterprises, being members of observation councils of various businesses and so on.

For example, nine deputies are registered directors of various enterprises, of which seven are members of Georgian Dream, and two are part of the Alliance of Patriots and European Georgia.

The family members of these MPs are also actively involved in businesses. Twenty-five such cases were discovered, seven of which were undeclared. In all the cases, members from Georgian Dream were present.

Sixteen MPs have not fully declared all their property.

According to the legislation of Georgia, MPs are forbidden from engaging in the kinds of activities listed above.

• According to the law, a functionary that incorrectly files his or her income can be fined 1000 lari.
• If a functionary incorrectly files his or her declaration or includes false information, their case must be examined by judicial institutions.
• According to the Criminal Codex of Georgia, the inclusion of incorrect or innacurate data carries a fine or a punishment of public service between 120-200 hours, be removed from his or her position or the right to occupy such a position for a term of three years. Moreover, the case of an MP involved in business must be examined by parliament before the end of his or her authority as an MP.
• The salary of a member of parliament of Georgia is 3 790 lari.