Economist Giorgi Khishtovani says the ruling Georgian Dream party is trying to restore the National Bank of Georgia’s (NBG) damaged reputation by fast-tracking governance reforms amid an investigation involving Board member Nana Keinishvili.
Speaking to BMG, Khishtovani welcomed stricter qualification requirements for future Board members, including at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, but noted that the rules would not apply to current members. He said Parliament should be held accountable for previously ignoring International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendations.
Khishtovani also supported strengthening collective decision-making in the Monetary Policy Committee so that the NBG president’s vote would no longer be decisive on its own. He described the reforms as necessary but criticized the ruling party for presenting them as positive changes without acknowledging earlier mistakes.
