The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) will consider temporarily excluding Board Member Nana Keinishvili from Board meetings following the launch of an investigation into her alleged illegal involvement in business activities, according to a statement released by the central bank.
The NBG said it had reviewed the circumstances outlined in letters submitted by representatives of BitExchange LLC and conducted a preliminary internal assessment within its remit. However, as the legal verification of the allegations falls outside the central bank’s statutory mandate, the materials were forwarded to the relevant competent authorities. The NBG expressed hope that the facts would be established objectively and promptly.
The central bank said its Board would consider Keinishvili’s temporary exclusion from meetings at its next session while the investigation is ongoing and until the circumstances are clarified. The NBG cited the high reputational standards expected of the institution as the reason for considering the measure.
The NBG also noted that BitExchange, a virtual asset service provider, had been fined following a scheduled inspection for violating regulations on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
