Under the Georgian Dream government’s plan, buildings of state agencies set to relocate to the proposed Government City on Arsenal Hill will be put up for sale. Irakli Abesadze, head of the Center for Civic Participation, argues that the government’s goal is to quickly replenish the budget through large-scale privatization, which he believes carries high corruption risks.
According to Abesadze, the authorities aim to “rapidly alienate the best investment objects” in Tbilisi, including the Parliament building and ministry offices located in the city center. He also links the university reform to this strategy, noting that many university buildings have already been mentioned as potential privatization assets. “There is a clear corrupt interest in cheaply acquiring valuable state property while this regime remains in power,” he told BMG.
Abesadze claims the second motive is the need for quick budget revenues amid a challenging economic environment. He argues that the government requires additional funds to sustain its administrative structure, and selling high-value real estate is the fastest way to secure them. “Since these are top-tier investment properties, finding buyers will not be difficult. The budget will receive quick income, helping them manage the difficult economic situation,” he said.
As reported earlier, the government plans to relocate ministries, Parliament offices, Tbilisi City Hall, and the government administration to newly built facilities on Arsenali Hill, according to a market study published by the Municipal Development Fund.
