Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) says in its recently released survey that the Georgian Dream government has spent 140.5 million GEL for PR staff between 2013 and 2020. 

The survey covers data from 322 government agencies, including the legislative, executive,  judiciary and local governments, as well as legal entities under the public law.

TI Georgia says that the largest amount out of the total money, more than 19.9 million GEL, was spent in 2016.

“In 2020, compared to 2012, the number of employees in PR of state agencies increased from 578 to 969 (68%),” TI Georgia says. 

TI Georgia states that 35 state agencies refused to provide the information, or did this in a wrong manner, including the government administration, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, ‘against which we have filed a lawsuit demanding the information according to the law.’