The Chairman of Georgia’s Communications Commission, Kakha Bekauri, has submitted his annual property declaration, revealing staggering personal wealth, lavish spending, and a growing dividend stream from his stake in one of Georgia’s largest supermarket chains.
Bekauri, who has chaired the Commission since 2017, is also a 33% shareholder in “Two Steps”, a major player in Georgia’s retail sector. According to his 2025 declaration (reflecting 2024 income), his dividend income from the company totaled GEL 20.5 million, making it by far his largest source of revenue.
This amount represents a sharp increase from previous years:
- 2023: GEL 18.2 million
- 2022: GEL14.8 million
- 2021: GEL 8.3 million
- 2020: GEL 4.3 million
- Total (2020–2024): GEL 66 million in dividends from “Two Steps”
By comparison, his official salary as chairman in 2024 was ₾202,000, placing him among the highest-paid public officials in Georgia.
Extensive Real Estate Holdings and High-End Vehicles
Bekauri’s property portfolio is expansive. His and his wife’s assets include:
- 21 apartments
- 14 land plots
Multiple non-residential premises and garages
In 2024, his wife, Ekaterine Beridze, purchased:
- Two 126 m² apartments on Asatiani Street for $203,000 and $201,000
- One 69 m² apartment on Chavchavadze Avenue for $300,000
Their car collection is equally impressive, consisting of 7 luxury vehicles valued at over GEL 2.1 million, including:
- Range Rover Autobiography – GEL 602,000 (2022)
- Porsche Panamera GTS – GEL 372,000 (2022)
- Land Rover Defender – GEL 326,000 (2023)
Bank Savings, Stocks, and Big Spending
Bekauri also reports:
- GEL 6.2 million in bank savings
A stock portfolio worth $599,000, acquired in 2022–2023, including shares in Spotify, Airbnb, and other international companies.
His 2024 expenses reflect a luxurious lifestyle and large-scale property development, including:
- GEL 1.5 million on furniture
- GEL 390,000 on engineering/electrical systems
- GEL 342,000 on indoor and outdoor lighting
- GEL 136,000 for yard landscaping
- GEL 59,000 on solar panels
- $53,000 on built-in furniture
- £140,000 on tuition fees
- €30,000 on weapons
- €64,000 on general shopping
- €18,000 on legal expenses
- $10,000 for designer services
Spousal Income and Public Scrutiny
Bekauri’s wife, Ekaterine Beridze, serves as Communications Director at Georgian Water and Power, earning a GEL 297,000 salary in 2024, according to the declaration.
Given Bekauri’s public office and significant business interests, his wealth and earnings are likely to draw increased attention from transparency watchdogs and the media, especially amid ongoing public discussions around conflicts of interest and accountability in public service.
