PM Kobakhidze: Ivanishvili ‘uncompromising’ on corruption as government vows continued crackdown

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended the government’s anti-corruption record, saying that ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili had taken an “uncompromising” stance against graft and that the administration has already taken decisive steps to eliminate corruption across the state.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kobakhidze recalled Ivanishvili’s return to politics in December 2023, when he publicly announced at a party congress that fighting corruption would be a top priority. The prime minister said the government had since worked to fulfil that pledge and will continue to do so.

“I can assure you of one thing: Bidzina Ivanishvili has an uncompromising attitude toward corruption. When he returned to politics in December 2023, one of his main declarations at the party congress was precisely about corruption - that the fight against corruption would be one of the highest priorities,” Kobakhidze said.

Kobakhidze acknowledged that 2024 was a difficult year - including an election cycle and intense political pressure - but insisted the government was now better placed to respond to internal challenges, including corruption.

“Some have tried to destabilise us from the outside, and that ultimately weakens the state, including in the fight against corruption. Today we are stronger and more independent than ever and cannot be undermined from outside. Therefore, we have every resource necessary to fight corruption and to implement prevention measures in absolutely every direction,” he said.

The prime minister invited public scrutiny of government actions, saying any instance of corruption found in government decisions, tenders or privatisations would be addressed.

“You can review any government decision, any act, any tender, any privatisation - if you find signs of corruption anywhere, we will answer for it. Over the past two years, if you cannot point to any act, tender or privatisation that shows signs of corruption, that means we have taken radical steps to fulfil the promise Ivanishvili made in December 2023 and to implement it since 8 February 2024,” Kobakhidze added.