Fighting Corruption in Georgia: Progress and Challenges

 

Corruption has been a long-standing issue in Georgia since the post-Soviet era. However, significant changes have taken place over the years to combat corruption and improve governance in the country.

 

Before the 2003 Rose Revolution, Georgia was known as one of the most corrupt nations in Eurasia. The revolution, which resulted in the ousting of President Shevardnadze, marked a turning point in the fight against corruption. Under the leadership of Mikheil Saakashvili, who won the 2004 elections with an overwhelming majority, drastic anti-corruption reforms were implemented.

 

The Saakashvili government's efforts led to a substantial reduction in low-level corruption, particularly in sectors such as the police, tax administration, customs, public services, and education. Transparency International (TI) hailed Georgia as the "best corruption-buster in the world" in 2010. The country's corruption perception score improved significantly, and Georgia was recognized for its breakthrough in addressing corruption.

 

However, critics argue that while petty corruption has been largely eradicated, new forms of corruption, such as a clientelistic system, have emerged. This system involves the country's leadership allocating resources to generate loyalty and support, thereby maintaining their power.

Despite the progress made, challenges remain. Transparency International Georgia identified issues such as insufficient accountability and transparency in some executive agencies, inadequate monitoring and evaluation of anti-corruption efforts, and a lack of a coherent framework for anti-corruption policies. The judiciary, media, and civil society are relatively weaker compared to the executive, and abuse of power at various levels of government is still a concern.

 

In recent years, Georgia's efforts to combat corruption have been recognized by international organizations such as the World Bank and the OECD. The government has demonstrated strong political will and implemented various measures to tackle corruption effectively. These include establishing anti-corruption councils, enforcing transparency in public procurement, strengthening law enforcement agencies, and promoting asset disclosure.

 

Georgia's business environment has also improved, with reduced corruption risks and simplified procedures for starting businesses. However, challenges persist, such as the lack of judicial independence, selective enforcement of economic laws, and concerns over the overlap between government and business interests.

 

 

The media sector has seen a decline in critical reporting and investigative programs, attributed to the government's influence and takeovers by loyal business interests. However, corruption in the media sector is not as prevalent as in other areas.

 

 

Overall, while Georgia has made significant progress in combating corruption and improving governance, there are ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. The fight against corruption requires sustained efforts, strong institutions, and continuous reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.