Opposition politician: “Georgia’s Central Bank independence is nonexistent”

Opposition politician Roman Gotsiridze has criticized the National Bank of Georgia, claiming its independence is nonexistent and controlled by the ruling party founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and the State Security Service (SSS).

“The organizational structure of the National Bank’s leadership clearly shows that its independence is reduced to zero,” Gotsiridze stated. “The Board is merely a façade, as we all know. Even the vice presidents lack real authority. All the power is concentrated in the hands of acting National Bank President Natia Turnava and General Director Burkiashvili.”

Gotsiridze further alleged that General Director Burkiashvili, despite not being an elected official, wields significant authority, including responsibilities tied to monetary policy, currency circulation, gold reserves, and anti-money laundering supervision.

“Essentially, the National Bank is under the control of Ivanishvili and the State Security Service. This poses a serious risk to the country’s financial system,” he added.