Day: January 22, 2026
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Кремль – не история успеха
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has entered several supermarket chains and distribution companies as part of an investigation into high grocery prices. The agency told the media it has begun “seizing various types of documents” under “dozens of court orders.”
“The investigation concerns the process of price formation, and for the purpose of studying this, electronic versions of documents are being requested from various companies under court orders,” the agency told Civil.ge, adding that it is “not interested in other financial matters.”
The move comes two days after the Georgian Dream government’s coordination commission, set up to study high prices for groceries, medicine, and gas, held its first meeting to discuss an “action plan for the coming weeks.” SSSG chief Mamuka Mdinaradze is a member of the commission, which is headed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
The move also follows a January 21 meeting between the commission and representatives of retail chains, after which Kobakhidze wrote on Facebook that an 86% markup on products is “quite high” and linked it to what he also considered a large number of grocery shops per capita compared with European countries.
Kobakhidze first raised the issue in December, when he argued that high grocery prices may stem from cartel-like coordination among retailers, while warning that anti-monopoly measures, including law enforcement action, could be taken. Critics, however, suggested the move was political, claiming the Georgian Dream wants to crack down on businesses. Following Kobakhidze’s statement, the SSSG quickly launched an investigation. A parliamentary commission is also expected to be established.