Opposition member: National Bank’s acting president will become its chair, bank will turn into ruling party’s ‘branch’

Roman Gotsiridze, an opposition representative and former chair of Georgia’s National Bank, on Tuesday claimed Natia Turnava, the Bank’s acting president and former economy minister, would become its head, while the NBG would “turn into the ruling Georgian Dream party’s branch”.

Gotsiridze said the appointment process of the National Bank’s board was being influenced by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling party. He asserted that the individuals being selected were loyalists who would “follow political directives rather than act independently in managing the country’s financial system”.

“The acting president has submitted to parliament the candidacies of four new board members of the National Bank. Three are current employees of the bank, and one is a former minister. None are external candidates. In reality, individuals with a track record of obedience and executing Ivanishvili’s instructions will be appointed,” said Gotsiridze.