Public officials received gifts worth 22 million GEL in one year, according to a study published by Transparency International - Georgia.

According to the non-governmental organization, in 2024, 308 public officials reported receiving gifts in their asset declarations, totaling 22 million GEL. Of this, 16 million GEL was received in cash. Additionally, gifts included 33 apartments, 14 land plots, 21 cars, and 6 weapons. 72% of the gifts (16 million GEL) were received from parents.

“Among high-ranking officials, gifts worth more than 100,000 GEL were received by then-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, then-Justice Minister Rati Bregadze, then-Chair of the Tbilisi City Assembly Giorgi Tkemaladze, and Supreme Court Judge Giorgi Mikautadze.

The highest total value of gifts, amounting to 4.5 million GEL, was received by employees of the Prosecutor’s Office. Members of Parliament received gifts worth 2.4 million GEL, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received 2 million GEL, and judges received 1.3 million GEL,” the report states.

According to the study, in 2023, gifts were received by officials from approximately 90 different agencies. The highest total value of gifts was received by employees of the Prosecutor’s Office, with 46 employees receiving gifts worth 4.5 million GEL. This is followed by Members of Parliament, who received gifts worth 2.4 million GEL, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who received nearly 2 million GEL, and judges, who received 1.3 million GEL.

In 2023, among high-ranking officials, significant gifts were received by former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili (150,000 GEL), then-Justice Minister Rati Bregadze (100,000 USD, an apartment), then-Deputy Justice Minister Buba Lomuashvili (160,000 GEL), Chair of the Tbilisi City Assembly Giorgi Tkemaladze (60,000 USD), and Supreme Court Judge Giorgi Mikautadze (50,000 USD). All of them received gifts from family members, according to the organization’s study.

Furthermore, the study highlights 10 public officials who, based on 2024 declarations, received the highest-value gifts:

1. Giorgi Shapathava, Prosecutor at the Procedural Supervision Department of the Investigation at the Ministry of Defense, Prosecutor’s Office – received gifts worth 1,012,000 USD (2,661,600 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate). He received 870,000 USD from his father and 142,000 USD from his sister. His declaration states that the gift from his father was received as a result of real estate sales.
2. Irakli Kirtskhalia, Member of Parliament – received real estate worth 250,000 USD from his father in 2023. He also received 185,900 USD and 137,000 GEL in cash from his father, and 1,714 USD in cash from his sister. At the 2023 average exchange rate, Irakli Kirtskhalia received gifts totaling 1.3 million GEL.
3. Vakhtang Baakashvili, First Deputy Head of the Youth Agency – his spouse, Tinatin Megrelishvili, received an apartment worth 295,000 USD from her father, equivalent to 775,800 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate.
4. Khatuna Totladze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs – received 250,000 USD from her mother, equivalent to 657,500 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate.
5. Davit Tsereteli, Judge at Tbilisi City Court – received an apartment worth 156,000 USD from his mother in 2023, equivalent to 410,000 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate.
6. Levan Gamkrelidze, Director of the Land Transport Agency, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development – received 150,000 USD in cash from his mother, equivalent to 395,000 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate. His declaration states that the gift was received as a result of the sale of a land plot.
7. Zurab Pataradze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Azerbaijan – received 75,000 USD in cash from his spouse’s mother and 65,000 USD from his mother. His declaration states that both amounts were received as a result of real estate sales. At the 2023 average exchange rate, Zurab Pataradze received gifts totaling 368,000 GEL.
8. Sandro Tsabutashvili, Head of the Border Management and Coordination Department, Patrol Police Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs – received 142,500 GEL and 17,640 USD in cash from his sister, and 70,000 GEL from his father-in-law (noted as a wedding gift). His spouse, Elene Jikhvashvili, received 63,000 GEL, 10,100 EUR, and 1,200 USD in cash from her father. At the 2023 average exchange rate, Sandro Tsabutashvili and his spouse received gifts totaling 353,000 GEL.
9. Vepkhia Lomidze, Judge at Tbilisi Court of Appeals – received a basement (commercial space) worth 300,000 GEL from his spouse, Nino Jincharadze.
10. Davit Zilfimiani, Former Member of Parliament – received 105,000 USD in cash from his grandson, equivalent to 276,000 GEL at the 2023 average exchange rate, according to the organization’s statement