Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into the possible illegal involvement of National Bank of Georgia (NBG) Board Member Nana Keinishvili in business activities. The case was opened under Article 337 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the illegal participation of a public official or equivalent person in entrepreneurial activity. Keinishvili has served on the NBG Board since September 2023 under a seven-year mandate. The National Bank said she would temporarily be excluded from Board meetings while the investigation is ongoing.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began following complaints submitted to the NBG by executives of BitExchange LLC, accompanied by audio recordings. The complainants allege that Keinishvili is involved in business activities and directly controls a network of companies regulated by the National Bank, whose shares are registered in the names of her family members and affiliated individuals. They also claim that she sought to acquire a stake in one of the regulated companies to expand her business activities. These allegations will be examined as part of the investigation.
The Prosecutor’s Office noted that Georgia’s Law on Combating Corruption prohibits public officials from engaging in entrepreneurial activity. The Organic Law on the National Bank of Georgia also prohibits NBG Board members and their family members from being partners in financial sector entities or related legal entities. The agency said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding Keinishvili’s alleged illegal participation in business activities, with further information to be provided once results are available.
