TI publishes public survey on corruption in Georgia

The Transparency – International Georgia (TI) has published a public opinion related to corruption.

According to the survey, 1% of respondents said that they or their family members had been asked to give a bribe in return for receiving public service in the past 12 months.

“At the same time, the citizens think that there are other kinds of corruption in the country. 59% of respondents responded that abuse of power by public officials is common in Georgia, while 21 % said that it is not common. The TI says that 36 % of respondents think abuse of power for personal gain by public officials is common, while 15 % consider it uncommon.

As for the purposes of abuse of power, 91 % of those respondents, who think that such actions are common, believe it aims to employ own family members, friends and relatives, 86% - think that the abuse of power by public officials aims to protect own business of the business and their family members, friends and relatives, 79% think that its purpose is inappropriate spending, 58% - a bribe taking in exchange for various cases.

According to the same survey, the majority of respondents (51%) think that there is no proper investigation of corruption cases when they are dealing with high-ranking officials or influential people, who have ties with the ruling party.

42% consider that the government, as a rule, cover up the people involved in corruption, and 31% think that the government, as a rule, discloses such cases.

With regard to employment in public service, majority of the respondents think that professionalism is not the main criteria for employment in the public service. Most of the respondents (31%) consider that acquaintance is the most important factor for being employed in the public service,” the TI says.

The TI Georgia-commissioned survey was fielded in a period between February 20 and March 5 by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC). The poll was conducted through nationwide face-to-face interviews (excluding occupied territories) with 2 087 respondents and has an average margin of error plus, minus 2.3%.