Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau probes concealment of Mamuka Khazaradze family deal with German Ambassador

The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia on Wednesday issued an official statement concerning Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the opposition Lelo party, announcing that his asset declaration was currently under review.

The Bureau's statement highlights a specific area of concern - a lease agreement signed between a member of Khazaradze's family and the German Ambassador, which was not reflected in the declaration.

“It is of special interest to determine the reasons why this agreement was not reflected in the declaration. It is important to assess whether the non-disclosure of the contract was intentional, whether it was related to an attempt to conceal income, and to what extent this action complies with the legal obligations defined by Georgian law”, the statement said.

According to recent reports, Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, is renting an apartment from the family of Mamuka Khazaradze.

The ruling Georgian Dream party officials, including the Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, have publicly criticised the Ambassador for the rental agreement. They have accused him of engaging in “political corruption”, undermining diplomatic neutrality, and showing a lack of impartiality by renting an apartment from an opposition leader.