Category: South Caucasus News

Civil Society Organizations in Georgia are calling for an investigation into allegations that Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili misused a state-owned aircraft for personal purposes. These claims surfaced after a recent journalistic investigation by TV Pirveli, revealing the Prime Minister’s use of a Georgian government-owned plane for a vacation in the United States. The government representatives have already rejected these allegations, asserting that the plane’s use was commercial and not funded from the government’s budget.

The joint statement issued on September 11, urges an investigation into multiple aspects of the case. In particular, it questions the source of the Prime Minister’s finances, stating: “Taking into account the monthly salary of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and the 2022 asset declaration, due to the possible disproportion between his income and the expenses required for commercial visits by air on the balance sheet of the State Security Agency, it is interesting to know what is the Prime Minister’s financial source”.

The CSOs also note that given the rising trends of kleptocracy in Georgia, it’s crucial for state agencies to respond effectively to such incidents. They highlight that this isn’t the first time allegations involving the Prime Minister and his family members have raised suspicions of abuse of Garibashvili’s position or influence for personal gain, potentially undermining democratic institutions in the country.

The organizations call on the Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia to promptly launch an investigation based on information aired on September 9, 2023, during the TV Pirveli program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday.”

Simultaneously, to address the considerable public interest in this matter, the CSO’s state that it is vital for the State Security Agency to disclose information related to the flight. Particularly, the contract details involving the parties concerned, along with documents related to cost estimates and settlements.

During the protest near the government administration building, police arrested the secretary of the UNM Youth faction, Igor Narmania, as he was about to spray an inscription on the asphalt in the area adjacent to the government administration building. The detainee was with a group of young people protesting against Garibashvili’s alleged corruption and demanding PM’s resignation.

A scandal over Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s use of a state aircraft to fly himself and members of his family to the United States has erupted over the weekend. The incident has prompted calls from the opposition for Garibashvili to be impeached.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili unveiled a series of initiatives at government meeting held on September 11. These initiatives include plans to introduce visa-free travel for Chinese tourists, increase stipends for high-achieving students, and grant amnesty to individuals who have illegally acquired state-owned land or property.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed his “highly successful” visit to China, emphasizing its primary goal of fostering “robust” trade and economic connections with the nation. He underscored the dual objective of increasing Chinese investments in Georgia and boosting the flow of Chinese tourists to the country. To achieve this, he announced that Chinese tourists would now enjoy visa-free travel to Georgia, with the necessary decree set to be signed later today. In addition, the Prime Minister expressed his intention to increase the number of direct flights to China, further facilitating increased tourism from the Chinese market.

Another initiative unveiled by the Prime Minister pertains to state stipends for high-achieving students in Georgia. Garibashvili revealed that previously, 2,500 students received a monthly stipend of 150 Gel. However, the government’s new decision will double this figure, with 5,000 students set to receive a monthly stipend of 300 Gel starting next month.

Finally, the Prime Minister also announced a decision regarding individuals who illegally acquired ownership rights to state-owned agricultural land before 1 September 2023. These individuals will be exempted from serving a sentence or paying fines under certain conditions. According to Garibashvili, the amnesty will be granted to certain categories of citizens, and those who fully compensate the state for the damages resulting from their criminal actions till September 1, 2024. This amnesty applies specifically to offenses falling under Articles 180 and 362 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The draft will be summited to the Parliament in the near future, according to the PM.

The Prime Minister also clarified that this amnesty will not extend to cases involving crimes committed by government officials, employees of state enterprises, legal entities under public law, non-entrepreneurial legal entities who abused their official status, or organized groups. Compensation for the damage suffered by the State must be made by transferring ownership of the agricultural land acquired through criminal means, ensuring that it is free of any legal encumbrances. If this is not possible, an equivalent amount should be paid for the land.

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