Transparency International Georgia has evaluated the performance of the Poti Municipality City Council of the 2021 convocation. The report is based on information requested from the City Council and that posted on the City Council’s official website, as well as on the observations of our organization. The study covers the period from November 2021 to May 2025.

According to the Transparency International Georgia has evaluated the performance of the Poti City Council three times, with reporting periods including November 2017 to 2019, and the years 2020, 2022 and 2023.

According to the organization, the Poti City Council consumed 106,683 liters (106.6 tons) of fuel worth GEL 294,248 during the reporting period.

“The Poti City Council spent GEL 6,047,527 during the reporting period, of which GEL 5,167,504 was allocated for wages.

The City Council consumed 106,683 liters (106.6 tons) of fuel worth GEL 294,248 during the reporting period.

Out of this total, Aleksandre Tkebuchava, the chairman of the Poti City Council, consumed 15%. From December 2021 to May 2025, he used 17,037 liters (17 tons) of fuel worth GEL 48,007. This amount of fuel could travel an average of 212,500 kilometers, which is equivalent to circling the Earth five times.

The Poti City Council has 35 members, seven of whom are elected in single-mandate majoritarian electoral districts, and 28 members are elected proportionally.

During the reporting period, the Poti City Council held 47 sessions, with only eight of them being extraordinary.

During the Poti City Council’s tenure, five commissions were established, which held a total of 199 sessions throughout the reporting period and submitted 192 draft legal acts to the Poti City Council. The commissions also prepared 422 conclusions on the compliance of the projects to be considered by the City Council with the legislation.

There were three factions working in the City Council: Sandro Kushashvili, chairman of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia faction, had six deputies; Ana Jojua, chair of the United National Movement faction, had two deputies; and Gigla Turkia, chairman of the Poti for Georgia faction, had one deputy.

Despite the minimal level of activities carried out by the factions, the expenses allocated for their operations were disproportionately high, totaling GEL 1,588,639.

The Poti City Council's attendance rate at meetings was consistently low throughout the 2021 convocation. City council members were absent from meetings a total of 239 times, 219 of which were without valid reasons.

The City Council did not provide 2024-2025 data on the number of speeches delivered by City Council members at its sessions, though this figure was quite low in 2022-2023. In 2023, 15 out of 35 members did not exercise this right. 23 members did not present their reports. In 2022, 11 members did not exercise their right to speak, and 27 did not present reports.

During the reporting period, the Poti City Council’s expenditures amounted to GEL 6,047,527.

The majority of the expenses, GEL 5,167,504 (85.4% of the total) were allocated to labor remuneration.

A total of GEL 83,732 was paid in bonuses, awards and supplements. The Poti City Council has one vehicle on its balance sheet, a 2022 Kia Seltos purchased by the municipality in June 2022 for GEL 65,000. The Poti City Council consumed 106,683 liters (106.6 tons) of fuel worth GEL 294,248 during the reporting period.

Aleksandre Tkebuchava, the chairman of the Poti City Council, used 15% of the total fuel consumed. From December 2021 to May 2025, he used 17,037 liters (17 tons) of fuel worth GEL 48,007. This amount of fuel could travel an average of 212,500 kilometers, which is equivalent to circling the Earth five times.

The fuel limit for other City Council officials is 110-140 liters.

During the reporting period, the Poti City Council incurred other expenditures: reimbursement for activities of the City Council members – GEL 412,576; telephone communication - GEL 45,352; business trips - GEL 38,115”, reads the statement.