The departure of National Bank of Georgia (NBG) Council member Nana Keinishvili, who has been accused of illegal business activity, further damages the central bank’s independence and international reputation, financier Nika Alavidze said in an interview with BMGTV’s Tsert’ili program.
Alavidze said the case reinforces concerns previously raised by international partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2023 and 2024 and the European Union in 2025. He described Keinishvili’s leave as part of a broader institutional crisis that began with the controversy surrounding former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, who was sanctioned by the United States.
According to Alavidze, the IMF’s concerns over the National Bank’s independence were among the key reasons its program with Georgia was suspended in 2023. The program was never resumed and ultimately expired.
Alavidze also commented on recent fast-tracked legislative amendments tightening qualification requirements for NBG Council members and shifting decision-making toward a more collective process. While he welcomed the changes in principle, he suggested their accelerated adoption may be linked to the IMF’s expected November visit, warning that reforms introduced merely for reporting purposes would have little practical impact.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the investigation into Keinishvili’s alleged illegal business activity, warning that a lack of transparency could allow the case to fade from public attention.
