Georgian Parliament Speaker says former official’s arrest part of policy against illegal use of public funds

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday commented on the recent detention of Romeo Mikautadze, the former First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, emphasising the importance of ensuring that no one was allowed to misuse public resources or opportunities unlawfully.

“We have heard the statement from the State Security Service; the Prosecutor’s Office is involved. This is part of a broader policy that aims to prevent the unlawful use of public funds and power”, the Speaker said.

“In this regard, we should follow the charges brought forward and wait for the judicial decisions. As for the statement that Georgia aims to be among the top three countries with the lowest levels of corruption, this is a political commitment. It includes both the creation of a solid legislative framework and the implementation of effective criminal policy”, he continued.

Papuashvili added that current data shows Georgia outperforms nine EU member states and several NATO countries in terms of low corruption levels.

“However, our goal is to be among the top three globally”, he stressed.

Tbilisi City Court on Monday ordered pre-trial detention for Mikautadze. The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Mikautadze with abuse of official authority and legalisation of illegal income.

According to an investigation by the State Security Service, Mikautadze systematically abused his power while holding various high-ranking positions in different government agencies, resulting in the accumulation of substantial illicit income.