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:
Where the high-level officials are involved,
Where an action containing signs of corruption is identified and for which disciplinary, administrative, or criminal liability is established by law,
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:
12 June, 2023
The list currently includes:
123 cases
Latest additions to the list:
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://t.ly/ncsy
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://t.ly/9eRk
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 ro 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: May 15, 2023
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://t.ly/Ch-Y, bit.ly/3vNclKL
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://t.ly/JT0N
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: October 6, 2022
Source: ifact.ge – https://t.ly/q4ICu, https://t.ly/u_Te
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: October 2, 2022
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – https://t.ly/U9d0, https://t.ly/Z8NT
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
____________________________________________________________________________
Involvement of Former or Incumbent Public Officials in Alleged Corrupt Deals
Expansion of the Prime Minister’s family estate
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.
Based on the public registry, it appears that the retired parents of the prime minister are not involved in any business activities. However, 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 and, after his son assumed the role of prime minister, he purchased agricultural plots totaling 27,494 sq. m.
Publication date: May 6, 2023
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3LOun9M
Minister’s brother acquires state property in suspicious circumstances
The journalistic investigation reveals how Davit Davitashvili, the brother of Vice Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili has 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, which was 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
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 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 cases of conflict of interest, illicit enrichment and also, 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 – – https://bit.ly/3X45VVf
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 2021
Source: Transparency International Georgia https://bit.ly/3Fa28Pb
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; Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3Hh3kTz
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: October 15, 2022
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/450Z0S5
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: October 29, 2022
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3ogdFbg
Alleged influence of Otar Danelia on sheep export business
The journalist investigation describes the alleged illegal influence of the former Minister of Agriculture (currently, Business Ombudsman) Otar Danelia on the Georgian sheep export business. More specifically, the sharp reduction in the number of companies involved in the export of Georgian sheep was allegedly not caused by natural competition, but rather by the personal connections of the owners of company called Viktoria with Danelia, which allowed the company to quickly become one of the major exporters of sheep at a detriment of competitors. Danelia denies the accusations.
Publication date: 27 May 2017
Source: Studio Monitor – https://bit.ly/3fX5yMC
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 / 5 April 2022 / 23 July 2022
Source: Studio Monitor / Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3S7UOtB; TV Mtavari Channel – https://bit.ly/3htkYZn; Squander Detector – https://bit.ly/3DVYTdw; TV Formula – https://bit.ly/3NSwZnx
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: March 27, 2023
Source: Studio Monitor / Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3mlYr3L
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
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: March 25, 2023
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3MxZWXe
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
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
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: November 19, 2022
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3UNP7Ta
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: 28 December 2021
Source: Studio Monitor / Radio Liberty – Part I: https://bit.ly/3RPs6NA / Part II: https://bit.ly/3RLToV0
Alleged corruption case in the judiciary
The journalist investigation describes the failure of the 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 in this process.
Publication date: 25 September 2021
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3PGcpXd / Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3aUNfoV
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 channel 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: 22 September 2022
Source: TV channel Mtavari – https://bit.ly/3TW0RkV, Gogashvili Statement -https://bit.ly/3Dvh6OV, TI Georgia statement – https://bit.ly/3Wp5c1F
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
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: 26 July 2021
Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3sn37oH
Privileges granted to relatives of Bidzina Ivanishvili
The journalist investigation alleges 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
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
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 Member of Parliament 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
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
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
Allegations of law enforcement inaction against ruling party associated businessman
The investigation describes an alleged case of a 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 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 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 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
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
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 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
Signs of 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
Signs of corruption in the process of managing land 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
Signs of corruption at 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
____________________________________________________________________________
Alleged violations related to elections
Mobilizing voters in favor of the ruling party by illegal means
Based on the joint research by Transparency International Georgia and International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, a large-scale scheme of mobilizing voters in favor of the ruling party by illegal means was identified, which provides evidence of 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 – https://bit.ly/3sOetDd
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: 26 August 2021
Source: Mtavari Channel – https://bit.ly/3HP5ozz; TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3GW1T9C
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
____________________________________________________________________________
Cases of Suspicious Enrichment of Former and Incumbent Public Officials
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
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 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
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
Allegations of 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
Defence minister’s undeclared house construction expenses
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
Suspicious enrichment of former Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze
The assets of former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze and his wife increased considerably after he had left his post. While he was in office, his family owned two properties of 226 sq. m in total; as of late 2018, however, he became the owner of up to 24 properties with the combined space of 7,900 sq. m.
Publication date: 9 November 2018
Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/2LEZV6X
Allegations of 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
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
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
____________________________________________________________________________
Alleged Corruption Cases related to the Spending of Public Funds
Alleged corruption in the grape harvest subsidy program
TI Georgia studied spending of grape harvest subsidies amounting to 138 million GEL in 2021 and found that a significant part of the subsidies were received by ruling party donors and companies connected with high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili.
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yZCFoA
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
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: November 26, 2022
Source: TV Pirveli – https://bit.ly/3GQCIYM
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; (English: OC Media – https://bit.ly/3HQovtj); https://bit.ly/43BTTH7
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 / Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3Jrx4ey
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 whether the invitation to bid issued by Georgian Railway restricted competition and the tender was “tailored to fit” a specific supplier. The suspicions are solidified by the fact that Transparency International 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: 05 August 2021
Source: TI Georgia – bit.ly/3xUcaOO
Alleged rigging of a major public procurement tender by Tbilisi City Hall
The investigation describes how Tbilisi City Hall announced a GEL 30 mln 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 mln without competition and through various other suspicious circumstances.
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Source: Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/2N9NnoE
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: Transparency International – Georgia – https://bit.ly/3Fk2eF7
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3X7kdEA
Signs of corruption in public procurement carried out during state of emergency
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
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
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: March 29, 2023
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3L6hYP4
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 mln.
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 construction of hydroelectric power plants and roads
The circumstances surrounding the construction of two hydroelectric power plants in Kakheti raise a suspicion that favourable 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
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 105m in Kakheti region alone). The suspicious circumstances include: disqualified competitors, terminated tenders, 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
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
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 candidate from single-seat district of Gori.
Publication date: 2 September 2019
Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3o1tw7m
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
Possible case of rigged tender specifications related to vehicle 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 Corruption Cases at the Municipal Level
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3LBggnY
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
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
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
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: March 27, 2023
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3mF2PuR
Illegal construction 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: Transparency International – Georgia – https://bit.ly/3mrw189
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
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
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yWV719
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3MW48jE, https://bit.ly/3mE4K2S
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: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3PItaAV
Signs of corruption Senaki Municipality procurement
TI Georgia wrote in February 2021 about the procurements of Dato Adamia, 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 2021
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3yYNTcW (Initial investigation – https://bit.ly/3c6r9NE)
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: Transparency International 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: Transparency International Georgia
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 disqualification of competitors.
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Source: Transparency International Georgia (initial version dated 25 November 2019)
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: Transparency International Georgia
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 2022
Source: Transparency International Georgia – https://bit.ly/3RSc1qw
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 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
The case of the Revolving Door 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: 2 July 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 the 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: 19 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
Signs of corruption in public procurement involving connections 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
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
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: 9 March 2021
Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3iajLEL
Signs of 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
Signs of 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
TV station of 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
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
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 disqualification of competitors and frequent changes to signed contracts.
Publication date: 23 April 2020
Source: TI Georgia – https://bit.ly/3o4LMwO / https://bit.ly/2SH4Mrp
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
Signs of corruptions 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
Company of Akhaltsikhe mayor’s advisor wins tenders in Akhaltsikhe
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
Companies of Akhaltsikhe mayor win tenders in Akhaltsikhe
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
Allegations of corruption 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 State Security Service.
Publication date: 15 December 2018
Investigation status: Unknown
Source: Studio Monitor / Radio Liberty – https://bit.ly/3d9wYd0 / https://bit.ly/3evKolU
[1] Is Georgia a Captured State?, Transparency International Georgia, December 11, 2020, available here.
[2] CPI 2021 For Eastern Europe & Central Asia: Democratic Hopes in the Shadow of Growing Authoritarianism, Transparency International, January 25, 2022, available here.
[3] CPI 2022 For Eastern Europe & Central Asia: Growing Security Risks and Authoritarianism Threaten Progress against Corruption, Transparency International, January 31, 2023, available here.
[4] Corruption and Anti-Corruption Policy in Georgia: 2016-2020, TI Georgia, October 20, 2020, available here; Fight against Elite Corruption remains a challenge for Georgia, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, October 12, 2018, available here; Addressing High-Level Corruption in Georgia: Progress Toward Meeting the EU-Georgia Association Agenda Commitments, Open Society Georgia Foundation, March 27, 2018, available here.
[5] European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2018 on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia (2017/2282(INI)), available here; CPI 2022 for Eastern Europe & Central Asia: Growing Security Risks and Authoritarianism Threaten Progress against Corruption, Transparency International, January 31, 2023, available here; OECD (2022), Anti-Corruption Reforms in Georgia: Pilot 5th Round of Monitoring Under the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, OECD Publishing, Paris, available here.
[6] Corruption in Georgia: Results of Public Opinion Survey, Transparency International Georgia, June 8, 2020, available here; Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Georgia, March 2022, International Republican Institute, available here.
[7] Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia, Article 100, Legislative Herald of Georgia, available here.
[8] OECD (2022), Anti-Corruption Reforms in Georgia: Pilot 5th Round of Monitoring under the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, OECD Publishing, Paris, available here.
[9] Georgia in Need of an Independent Anti-Corruption Agency, Open Society Georgia Foundation, December 12, 2022, available here.
[10] Opinion on Georgia’s application for membership of the European Union, European Commission, June 16, 2020, available here.
[11] OECD (2016), Anti-Corruption Reforms in Georgia: Fourth Round of Monitoring of the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, OECD Publishing, Paris, Recommendation 21 (1), available here.
[12] Ibid, p. 9-10.
[13] Law of Georgia on Facilitating the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, Legislative Herald of Georgia, available here
[14] OECD (2023), Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, 5th Round of Monitoring: Guide, p.4, available here.
Discussion about this post