Transparency International report: Tbilisi City Assembly members involved in business activities, possible corruption
The organisation has also revealed violations in asset declarations of public officials of the Assembly, naming eight public officials who had “incompletely declared” their own or family members’ business activities. Eight public officials in the body have not delegated the right to manage shares in private companies to other persons, as required by their position in the Assembly, it also notes. Photo: Tbilisi City Assembly/Facebook
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Nearly a half of Tbilisi City Assembly members, including a dozen public officials, have links with business activities, a new report by Transparency International Georgia shows, with the inquiry also alleging possible cases of corruption, incomplete property declarations and other irregularities at the city body.
Released on Thursday, the report says the organisation has revealed “several violations” in the structure, including public officials owning active businesses, incomplete declarations of property, participations in public procurement, donations to own political parties, and more.
Among the violations are facts of 23 out of 50 members of the Assembly - including 12 public officials - having links with business activities, and 11 employees holding non-public official positions having business activities.
The report also says 35 out of 50 members of the Assembly have donated money to their political parties at different times, including eight members donating funds to the United National Movement, the largest opposition party, and 23 members to the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Companies affiliated with six members of the Assembly, including one public official, have participated in public procurement, TI also says while naming cases and officials involved.
The organisation has also revealed violations in asset declarations of public officials of the Assembly, naming eight public officials who had “incompletely declared” their own or family members’ business activities. Eight public officials in the body have not delegated the right to manage shares in private companies to other persons, as required by their position in the Assembly, it also notes.
Additionally, the report identifies a case of possible political corruption, with 16 out of 29 members of the Assembly from the ruling party donating “suspiciously identical amounts” of ₾115,000 ($37,888/€35,769) to Georgian Dream on October 12, 2021, after the first round of the local self-government elections in the country.
In comments on the report, TI Georgia said it had analysed business interests and activities, as well as political donations of all 50 members of the Assembly, and highlighted restrictions applied to public officials in the country regarding their business activities to “avoid giving priority to their personal interests above the interests of the state and citizens.”
It urged the Civil Service Bureau to “review the violations” identified in the asset declarations of public officials and “respond in accordance with the law.”