Esia Group LLC has been participating in state tenders since July 2021, receiving 1,869,747 GEL. This company was founded by Irakli Aznaurishvili, a former business partner of Akaki Beridze, director of the Butumi municipal N(N)LE[1] City Infrastructure and Amenities Department.
The Sever company, which has links with Russian businessmen, wins tenders related to the care of stray animals and operation of a landfill without competition in the municipalities of Adjara.
A company owned by the son and daughter-in-law of Nodar Talakhadze, the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Commission and Member of the Tender Commission of the Akhaltsikhe City Council - Company L S Georgia LLC - received 8,797,512 GEL from the state procurements in 2020-2021.
Overlooking the Batumi port on the hill of the village of Salibauri, a company owned by Russian citizens is planning to build a residential area (Salibauri Hills) spanning 16,000 square meters. The project raises red flags which suggest that the Russian citizens used their Georgian partners to donate to the ruling party, shortly after which they received a necessary permit.
The company of Aleko Khvistani, Electric Installation Service LLC, receives state procurements. He is the brother-in-law of the parliamentary majority MP Viktor Japaridze. Aleko Khvstani is a donor of the ruling party and the director of Electric Installation Service LLC.
Transparency International Georgia continues to examine the legality of ongoing and completed constructions on land plots owned by public officials in Adjara.
Martin Gabrieliani, who has held various public positions in Akhalkalaki Municipality since 2013, receives state procurements. Since August 2019, his company Megobroba-5 LLC has received 36 public procurements and signed contracts for 1,390,861 GEL. Whence, his company received 667,186 GEL (47.9%) from the Akhalkalaki budget through 21 procurements.
TI Georgia has studied the process of privatization conducted by the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in the years 2020-2021.