Transparency International Says 41 Georgian MPs Have Business Ties
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Forty-one members of Georgian Dream-led parliament have business interests, with companies linked to lawmakers receiving hundreds of millions of Georgian Lari (GEL) in state contracts, Transparency International Georgia said on Tuesday.
The anti-corruption watchdog published a study examining business ownership, public procurement and political donations among MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party. The research is based on publicly available data and reflects the situation as of Oct. 24, 2025.
According to the report, companies in which MPs hold ownership stakes won more than 270 public tenders worth about 466 million GEL. Firms linked to lawmakers also received more than 300 simplified procurement contracts totaling more than 7.7 million GEL.
"The study examines MPs' business ties, the participation of MPs' companies in simplified procurement and tenders, and political donations made by MPs ahead of elections," Transparency International Georgia said.
The organization said 41 of the 87 MPs reviewed have ties to business, and 17 declared income from business activities in their asset declarations. Several lawmakers reported earning more than one million GEL from business, including Anton Obolashvili, Shota Berekashvili and Giorgi Chkonia, the report said.
The study also found that some MPs hold stakes in multiple companies. Vasil Chigogidze was identified as holding shares in the largest number of firms.
Responding to the report, First Vice-Speaker of Parliament Gia Volski rejected suggestions that MPs use their mandates for personal business interests.
"I don't think being an MP provides any privileges," Volski told journalists. "These people were already wealthy when they entered parliament. They pay enormous sums into the state budget and help a great many people by creating jobs. They operate in accordance with the law defined for members of parliament."
Volski said no lawmaker had used a parliamentary mandate to benefit private business and said tenders are conducted electronically. "If there is any evidence that tender conditions were violated, we can examine that case specifically," he said. "Anyone who violates the rules and breaks the law will be held accountable."
Transparency International also reviewed political donations made by current MPs since 2012. Lawmakers donated a combined 2.7 million GEL during that period, with most of the funds going to Georgian Dream and its then-presidential candidate, Salome Zourabichvili, the organization said.
