Non-governmental organization the “Young Barristers” published monitoring results on topic “Property declarations of politicians and their secret business interests”. As stated in the analysis of the document, since parliamentary elections of 2012, a study of property conditions of former high-ranking persons in legislative and executive branches has been a priority. Georgian law especially obliges high-ranking persons not to use their job positions in favor of own interests and not to harm public interests by doing so, although recent practice revealed, that high-ranking persons in public administration, as well as famous politicians factually set up entrepreneurship by remounting and shareholding their business interests over at their family members and close relatives.
According to head of the “Young Barristers” Archil Kaikatsishvili, attention was paid to property declarations and business interests of members of the Parliament of Georgia during the monitoring process, as well as to other politicians whose property declarations and business interests where highly interesting to public. Lawyers’ team of the organization studied property declarations of former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, member of the parliament Givi Targamadze and former secretary of Council of Georgia – Giga Bokeria. The monitoring revealed their secret business interests and active participation of their family members in economically beneficial arrangements.
According to the monitoring, companies and firms in connection with Gigi Ugulava have had an income of more than 13 million GEL, whereas firms connected to Givi Targamadze have had an income of 85 million GEL. In case of Gigi Ugulava, business has been owned by his brother, uncle, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, father’s sister and other relatives with the following firms: “Mani”, “Geoland”, “T.F”, “LT Group”. E.g. Company of brother of the former mayor: “Geoland” is a winner of 38 state tenders, through arrangement with one person, State has had 114 contracts with it, in addition to this, Gigi Ugulava’s uncle’s, Tamaz Gogiashvili’s company – “T.F” is a winner of 13 state tenders through arrangement with one person only with 28 state contracts. The company owns a fireworks business.
The monitoring will pay attention to Givi Targamadze’s connections with business. Family of the deputy and other relatives are actively involved in beneficial companies’ activities and receive a large amount of gain. E.g. Ltd “Paul Schuller und Irao Group”, established and shared by a brother of the parliament member – Zaza Targamadze, has had a net income of 60 million GEL in 2005-2012. Must be mentioned, that the abovementioned company through a contract with “United Airports of Georgia” has had a net income of 12 840 051 GEL. Furthermore, in association with “Municipality Development Funds of Georgia” the company has had an income of 2 324 780 GEL. The company, through arrangements with one person, has also made a work worth of 22 million GEL for National Bank in 2010-2013. The company, with a financial aid of Kakheti Regional Development agency, through arrangements with one person, has performed 300 556 GEL worth rehabilitative activities of house roofs in Kakheti region damaged during the element. In addition to this, organization’s attention was paid to Ltd “Milky way” (I/N404384910), Ltd “Irao Art” (I/N204536010) and Ltd “Kalanda” (I/N 204874790), whose heads and establishers are family members and close relatives of the parliament member.
Based on monitoring, firms associated with Giga Bokeria have had a net income of 45 million GEL. In precise, according to public information, Giga Bokeria’s secret business interests are seen in business activities of his Father, wife, wife’s sister and brother-in-law.
Giga Bokeria’s father, Levan Bokeria represents a constructing firm Ltd “Lebo” (I/N 205172999), where he holds 100% of shares. A net income of the company estimates 2 363 606 GEL. Levan Bokeria, also owns 20% of shares in a constructing firm Ltd “Arkstudio” (I/N 211326867) with a net income of 26 523 662 GEL.
The monitoring revealed, that sister of Giga Bokeria’s wife – Rusudan Chergoleishvili represents a head of a repairs firm Ltd “Olivedesign” (I/D 202351383), possessing 50% of shares. A net income of the organization is 14 621 734 GEL. Rusudan Chergoleishvili owns 50% of shares in gallery Ltd “New Gallery” as well (I/D 404399593), with a net income of 161 474 GEL.
In addition to abovementioned, we will pay attention to Rusudan Chergoleishvili’s husband, Kakhaber Ninua’s activities, who established following companies:
- Ltd “Gulf Racing”, with a net income of 324 487 GEL (I/N 404915320) and 100% of shares. Activities: Car service
- Non-entrepreneurship legal entity helping fund “Tanadgoma” for those who have died at military service and their families, with an income of 1 552 873 GEL. The company has been liquidated in April 2012.
Kakhaber Ninua purchased 3 025 m/sq non-agricultural real estate (ნაკ. 111/033) in Tskneti from Tbilisi self-government unit in December 8th 2011. In addition to this, in September 2011, he also purchased 1000 m/sq agricultural land in Tskneti forest territory. Approximate value of purchased property estimates 400 000 GEL.
As for declarations of former secretary of Council of Georgia, Giga Bokeria himself, he owns a real property – flat in Pekini ave. N2, with an area of 60.00 m/sq, his wife on the other hand, Tamar Chergoleishvili possesses BMW 120. While on position of secretary of Council of Georgia, Giga Bokeria has had a salary of 85790.00 GEL, as for his wife, Tamar Chergoleishvili has had a salary of 132000.00 GEL at a position of main editor at magazine “Tabula”. According to the declaration, Tamar Chergoleishvili is a stockholder of the magazine. Giga Bokeria does not own any securities.
According to the declaration, Giorgi Bokeria has loaned 27.000.00 GEL, while his wife, Tamar Chergoleishvili has 52400.00 GEL. Tamar Chergoleishvili also owns two obligations with amounts of 23.500.00 GEL and 25 000 GEL. What is more, Tamar Chergoleishvili owns 119 000.00 Euros in a French bank, as for Georgian banks, here she possesses: 1403.70 USD (“TBC Bank”) and 6681.00 GEL (“Liberty Bank”). As for Giga Bokeria himself, he only owns 7799.56 GEL according to his declaration (“TBC Bank”).
The “Young Barristers”, based on practice of Georgian Constitutional court and international normative obligations, state that an obligation of high-ranking persons – to keep away from interest conflicts, represents not only their judicial responsibility, but ethical and moral obligation as well. A job position at public administration obliges a person to acknowledge this obligation and act correspondingly. This obligation extends over members of the parliament as well – maybe even more extensively due to their important role in state system. According to UN “International code of Conduct of Public officials” “a public official must not use his job position to gain unnecessary financial gain for oneself or family”.
The “Young Barristers”, in frames of the implemented monitoring results, believe, that requests of law must be satisfied, among them Georgian law on “Interest conflicts and corruption in public administration”. A research must begin on this issue and society should be informed about property conditions of various high-ranking persons, their possible connections to business, legality of elite business, and must be defined what does “a family business-interests” of public officials mean.
