“In 2025, criminal prosecution was initiated against 82 individuals who were employed in the public sector at the time of committing corruption offences, 13 of whom held senior public positions at the time,” Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze stated during the presentation of the Prosecutor’s Office’s 2025 annual report to the Prosecutorial Council.
He further noted that in 2024, prosecutions were initiated against 61 public sector employees for corruption offences, of whom only two were senior officials.
According to the Prosecutor General, the overall number of criminal prosecutions initiated against individuals involved in corruption offences increased in 2025 compared to the previous year. A total of 125 persons were prosecuted, representing an increase of 42 cases from the previous year.
He also noted that, as part of a structural reform aimed at improving the effectiveness of corruption investigations and prosecutions, the Anti-Corruption Crimes Department was established in 2025. This new department was formed based on the former Division for the Prosecution of Corruption Offences.
“In the context of anti-corruption efforts, criminal investigations were opened in 2025 into 230 cases involving corruption offences committed in the public sector, the highest figure recorded over the preceding three years. The most frequently investigated offence in 2025 was neglect of official duty, with 72 investigations opened, followed by abuse of official authority in 66 cases, misappropriation and embezzlement in 59 cases, official forgery in 26 cases, bribery-taking in 18 cases, bribery-giving in eight cases, exceeding official authority in seven cases, and unlawful participation in commercial activity in four cases,” Gvarakidze stated.
The Prosecutor General further emphasised the importance of responding promptly to cases of misappropriation or embezzlement of lawfully held or used property – especially when the accused abuses their official position.
“In 2025, the highest prosecution rate, with 43 accused, was recorded for misappropriation and embezzlement committed through abuse of official position, followed by abuse of official authority with 23 individuals, official forgery with 22, bribery-taking with 18, neglect of official duty with 16, exceeding official authority with seven, bribery-giving with six, and unlawful participation in commercial activity with four. It is worth highlighting that in 2025, criminal prosecution was initiated against 82 individuals who were employed in the public sector at the time of committing the relevant offences, 13 of whom held senior public positions at the time,” the Prosecutor General stated.
In presenting the report, the Prosecutor General highlighted that in 2025, 44 individuals were convicted of misappropriation and embezzlement. Additionally, 16 were found guilty of official forgery, 10 of accepting bribes, and six of giving bribes.
“As regards corruption offences committed in the private sector, investigations were opened into 77 criminal cases, including 47 cases of misappropriation and embezzlement through abuse of official position, 17 cases of commercial bribery, and 13 cases of abuse of authority. Criminal proceedings related to corruption offences in the private sector were initiated against 115 individuals. Among them, 81 were charged with misappropriation and embezzlement through abuse of official position, 22 with commercial bribery, and 12 with abuse of authority. Given that corruption offences frequently involve material harm, 294 units of real property, 34 motor vehicles, and shares in 64 companies, all allegedly acquired through criminal means, were frozen in 2025 to safeguard the interests of justice. In the same year, courts handed down convictions against 82 individuals found guilty of corruption offences in the private sector, with 15 properties valued at 825,492 lari and four vehicles valued at 261,000 lari confiscated,” Giorgi Gvarakidze stated.
