Economist Giorgi Khishtovani has sharply criticized GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's recent comments on tackling corruption, calling them “laughable” given that the ruling Georgian Dream party is now in its 14th year of governance.
Speaking to TV-program Analytics, Khishtovani was responding to Kobakhidze’s remarks made during a meeting with business leaders last week, where the GD Prime Minister stated that the government would “do everything to minimize the level of corruption.”
“The idea that Georgian Dream is only now beginning to fight corruption, 14 years into its rule, is absurd,” said Khishtovani. “It suggests the economic situation is far worse than the government admits.”
Khishtovani linked the timing of the anti-corruption rhetoric to broader economic challenges, including decreased state revenues and declining lending activity.
“The economic ‘cake’ is shrinking. There’s less money in circulation, and state finances are tightening. Lending is also down. All this indicates real strain on the economy,” he said.
In Khishtovani’s view, the mention of corruption in such a context is less about genuine reform and more a sign of desperation.
“This kind of narrative only confirms the difficulty of the current economic situation. The ruling party wouldn’t be meeting with business and suddenly focusing on corruption unless they felt pressure.”
The economist also expressed concern over increasing state pressure on the private sector.
“Historically, when the state feels cornered economically, pressure on businesses tends to rise. That’s what we may be witnessing now.”
Khishtovani’s comments reflect growing skepticism among experts and business circles about the government's economic messaging, as inflation, reduced credit activity, and investor uncertainty persist.
