State Security Service highlights anti-corruption activities in 2022 report

The State Security Service of Georgia on Thursday said its anti-corruption body brought 170 people to justice in 61 criminal inquiries in 2022, with the cases including bribery, illegal possession of real estate, and abuse of official authority.

It particularly noted cases of illegal possession of state property, noting 188 units of real estate and 20 units of personal property worth ₾4,008,820 ($1,542,059) were seized throughout 2022.

Court proceedings in 2022 involved seven criminal cases and ruled on returning 28,659 square metres of land worth ₾360,579 ($138,702) to the state.

The Service also noted Georgia moved from 45th to 41st place among 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International last year, highlighting the new position ranked it alongside countries like the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia. 

It also said the ranking placed the country ahead of EU member states including Poland, Slovakia, Greece, Croatia and Romania, while also placing it at the top in the Eastern European region and ahead of Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine - candidate countries aspiring to join the European Union.