UNM deputy secretary: corruption, oligarchic control remain unchanged in Georgia

Irakli Pavlenishvili, deputy secretary-general of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM), has criticised the Georgian government, saying that ordinary citizens see no improvement in corruption, cartel deals, or economic fairness.

Speaking to the media, Pavlenishvili said that Georgia is currently in a crisis, with both domestic and international observers being led to believe that the country is dominated by oligarchic forces.

“Recently, there has been a strong effort to portray Georgia as an oligarch’s country, where democratic institutions cannot be established and the pro-Western course has failed. This is the aim of the ruling Georgian Dream party,” Pavlenishvili said.

He added that powerful interests continue to influence decisions ranging from construction projects in foreign cities to strategic dealings with Russia, while citizens who resist such influence face long-term imprisonment.

“Over the past year, it was not corruption schemes, cartels, or oligarchic interests that were defeated, but rather a specific clan within Bidzina Ivanishvili’s network that controlled these schemes. As a result, all power has been concentrated in the hands of this clan. Therefore, nothing has changed for ordinary Georgians in terms of corruption, economic fairness, or cartel activity. Politically and socially, Georgia is on the brink of democratic collapse, with fundamental civil rights effectively stripped away,” Pavlenishvili said.