Georgian Dream Received Six Times More Donations Than All Other Parties Combined, TI Reports
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, August 1, 2025
Transparency International (TI) Georgia reported that the ruling Georgian Dream party received GEL 6.6 million in donations during the first half of 2025. This amount is six times greater than the combined total of all other political parties, raising concerns about financial inequality in Georgia's political landscape.
In its latest report released on July 31, TI Georgia warned of a "sharp financial inequality" and drew attention to the possible connection between political donations and state-awarded contracts. The organization also noted what it called an "anomalous growth of donations" from the Adjara region, which came after the resignation of Tornike Rizhvadze as the Government Head of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
"The potential participation of large donors to Georgian Dream in systemic corruption continues to raise legitimate questions - companies associated with them receive multi-million GEL tenders and budget subsidies," the report said.
According to the findings, eleven companies linked to Georgian Dream donors who contributed in 2025 received state tenders totaling around GEL 144 million since 2024.
In addition, 23 companies with ties to Georgian Dream donors secured simplified procurement contracts worth up to GEL 1.5 million.
By comparison, no company connected to donors from opposition parties won a state tender during this period. Simplified procurement contracts awarded to such companies totaled only GEL 185,447.
The report also pointed to major differences in agricultural subsidy distribution. Thirteen companies associated with Georgian Dream donors received more than GEL 27 million in subsidies since 2024.
The watchdog described a sharp rise in donations from the Adjara region following the April resignation of Tornike Rizhvadze. His departure was followed by speculation that he had been pressured by party officials to return money allegedly gained through corrupt schemes. Weeks later, Rizhvadze was hospitalized with a gunshot wound that prosecutors described as a suicide attempt.
In the three months after his resignation, more than GEL 2.5 million was donated to Georgian Dream from Adjara. In June alone, 44 donors contributed GEL 1,727,200, of which 39 were from Adjara and accounted for GEL 1,541,100.
The increase began in April, grew in May, and peaked in June. Out of 62 total donors from Adjara during those three months, 39 had never donated before.
"Such a large amount of donations from the region in this timeframe is unprecedented and raises suspicion that the donations were made through third parties, which is a violation of the law," the report said.
TI Georgia also reported that all of the GEL 190,000 in donations received by People's Power in 2025 came from individuals who had previously donated to Georgian Dream.
The watchdog said these patterns of donations, along with the awarding of government contracts and subsidies to linked companies, raise serious questions about corruption and fairness in political financing.
