TI Georgia continues to study the asset declarations of public officials. This time we present information on those officials of the municipalities of Samtredia, Vani, and Tkibuli who filled out the asset declarations incompletely in the years of 2017-2018 – those who failed to include information about their and/or their family members’ participation in commercial activity and, also, those who engage in activities incompatible with their positions.

We have studied the asset declarations of up to 90 public officials as part of the research, as a result of which we revealed 7 cases of incompletely filled out asset declarations in the Samtredia Municipality, 1 such case in the Vani Municipality, and 3 cases in Tkibuli. We also discovered 2 cases where officials were engaged in activities incompatible with their positions in the Samtredia Municipality and 1 such case in Tkibuli. This violates the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service, according to which a public official may not perform any kind of paid work (except for scientific, pedagogical or creative activities) or hold a position in another budgetary institution or a legal entity of private law.

The study revealed one more violation of the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service which obliges public servants to transfer the management rights of their stakes in enterprises to other persons for the duration of their time in office. Three officials in Samtredia and 4 officials in Tkibuli failed to transfer the management rights of their stakes in enterprises.

The Samtredia Municipality

Koba Dzidziguri – Deputy Chairperson of the Town Council of Samtredia

In a declaration filled out in 2017, Koba Dzidziguri failed to indicate that he was the head and founding partner of general partnership (GP) Zando. The activity of GP Zando was aimed at ensuring relevant measures for the construction of a St. George Church in the village of Gamochinebuli, although, according to the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs, a general partnership is considered a business entity, due to which, by taking a position in GP Zando, Koba Dzidziguri violated a requirement of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service, according to which a public official may not be the head of a business entity.

Tariel Dvalishvili – Chairperson of the Georgian Dream faction of the Town Council of Samtredia

In a declaration filled out in September 2017, Tariel Dvalishvili failed to indicate that his spouse, Nana Tevzadze, is the owner of an apartment in Samtredia and 2 land plots in the village of Gormagali.

Liza Kraveishvili – Chairperson of the Georgian Dream – Entrepreneurs faction of the Town Council of Samtredia

The declaration that was filled out by Liza Kraveishvili in September 2017 does not indicate that she is the owner of a 23% stake in Peikari (Weaver) LLC and that she has not transferred the management rights of the stake to another person, which violates the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service.

Badri Shengelia – Head of the Commission on Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs of the Town Council of Samtredia

According to a declaration filled out in October 2017, Badri Shengelia is the owner of a 30% stake in Ghaniri-2 LLC, although, according to the Entrepreneurial Register, he is also the director of the said company, which violates the requirements of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service, according to which a public official may not be the head of a business entity. Badri Shengelia has also violated the requirement of Article 13 of the same Law which obliged him to transfer the management rights of his stake to another person.

Valeriane Potskhveria – Mayor of the Samtredia Municipality

In a declaration filled out in 2017, Valeriane Potskhveria failed to indicate that he is the owner of a 20% stake in Elita 5+ LLC and that he has not transferred the management rights of the stake to another person, which violates the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service.

Noe Ivaniadze – Head of the Service of Economic Development, Economic Statistics, Property Management, and Agriculture of the Town Hall of Samtredia

In a declaration filled out in September 2017, Noe Ivaniadze failed to indicate that his spouse, Nona Pesvianidze, is the owner of a 25% stake in Akhali Aptiaki (New Pharmacy) LLC.

Zurab Gogia –Head of the Service of Infrastructure, Spatial Arrangement, Architecture, Construction, Transport, and Area Improvements of the Town Hall of Samtredia

In a declaration filled out in 2017, Zurab Gogia failed to indicate that his spouse, Nana Mikeladze, is the owner of a residential space on Kraveishvili Street in Samtredia.

The Town Council of Vani

Giorgi Ivaniadze – Deputy Chairperson of the Town Council of Vani

In a declaration filled out in 2017, Giorgi Ivaniadze failed to indicate that his spouse, Indira Gogodze, is a co-owner of a residential space under construction in Vani.

The Tkibuli Municipality

Temur Chubinidze – Mayor of the Tkibuli Municipality

In a declaration filled out in July 2017, Tamar Chubinidze failed to indicate that his spouse, Nino Tsrikedze, is the owner of a 7% stake in Samto Sainvestitsio Korporatsia (Mountain Investment Corporation) LLC. The declaration also fails to indicate that Nino Tsirekidze is the owner of a land plot in the village of Satsire.

Oleg Karkashadze – Head of the Service of Internal Audit and Monitoring of the Town Hall of Tkibuli

Oleg Karkashadze has held the aforementioned position in the Town Hall since October 1, 2014. (Prior to that, he was a sole entrepreneur and had concluded 19 contracts with N(N)LEs established by the Tkibuli Municipality. After he started work at the Municipality, his spouse, Inga Tsirekidze, was registered as a sole entrepreneur and continued her spouse’s business activity.) In 2015, Ms. Tsirekidze concluded 4 simplified contracts with the Tkibuli Municipality. She received an income of GEL 850 from these contracts, and the object of procurement was the provision of furnishings, lighting equipment and electric lamps, as well as wires and cables.

Koba Robakidze – Head of the Administration Service of the Town Hall of Tkibuli

Koba Robakidze has held the aforementioned position since September 17, 2014. Prior to taking this position, he concluded 6 simplified contracts with procuring organizations, including 3 contracts with the Tkibuli Municipality. The total value of all the three contracts amounted to GEL 768, and the object of procurement was the repair and maintenance of personal computers, office equipment, and telecommunications and audiovisual equipment, as well as computer-related services.

Teimuraz Kelbakiani – Chairperson of the Finance and Budget Commission of the Town Council of Tkibuli

In a declaration filled out in January 2018, Teimuraz Kelbakiani failed to indicate that he is the owner of a 20% stake in Ukraina Sakartvelo Investi (Ukraine Georgia Invest) LLC. He indicated his links with Mtis Nobati LLC, though he failed to specify the amount of his stake in the limited liability company – according to the data of the Public Registry, Mr. Kelbakiani owns a 24.5% stake in the said company. Teimuraz Kelbakiani has not transferred the management rights of his stake to another person, which is a violation of the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service.  

Ioseb Robakidze – Head of the Commission on Culture, Education, and Youth Affairs of the Town Council of Tkibuli

The declaration filled out by Ioseb Robakidze in 2018 does not indicate that he is a shareholder (16.4%) and director of Koksi LLC, which violates a requirement of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service, according to which a public official may not be the head of a business entity. Ioseb Robakidze was also obliged to transfer the management rights of his shares in Koksi LLC to another person, which he has not done.  

Vakhtang Gvenetadze – Head of the Finance and Budget Service

In a declaration filled out in 2018, Vakhtang Gvenetadze indicated that he is the owner of a 20% stake in Tskhrajvari 2009 LLC, although he failed to transfer the management rights of his stake to another person, which is a violation of the requirements of Article 13 of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service.  

Aleko Panchulidze – Head of the Service of Economy and Property Management

In a declaration filled out in 2018, Aleko Panchulidze indicated that he is the owner of a 10% stake in Savachro Tsentri (Trade Center) LLC, although he failed to transfer the management rights of the said stake to another person, which is a violation of the Law on Conflict of Interest and Corruption in Public Service.

Verification of asset declarations of public officials is one of the most important instruments for combating corruption. Accordingly, TI Georgia requests the Civil Service Bureau to start monitoring of asset declarations of the individuals mentioned in the study on the basis of the presented information.