Backsliding on anti-corruption in Georgia
Just in case we weren’t certain where Georgia stands on anti-corruption, Reuters recently reported on the government’s abolition of its primary anti-corruption agency, the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The agency was established in “[s]et up in November 2022 as part of Georgia's bid to join the EU, the Bureau was tasked with developing anti-corruption plans, strengthening whistleblower protection and overseeing the financing of political parties, among other duties.” The government will noted that they wanted to "optimise state resources" and so they intend to place the functions of the Bureau within the State Audit Office which they have defined as as a higher and more independent constitutional body.
Why should we care and what needs to be done? Unfortunately, we care in that it continues to show which way Georgia is going, regardless of their citizens desires, or what their CSOs think, in moving away from a more transparent government. As we know Georgia’s government has been leaning towards Russia, as well as exhibiting authoritarian elements, and the Bureau has not been used in the way it was intended, but as a tool to persecute independent civil society organizations. Yet, even with this clearly very mixed history, it is important that anti-corruption entities are valued and that they are supported in their legitimate approaches. Luckily civil society and the citizens recognize the importance of these agencies, and should continue to push reforms forward, and try to keep their government accountable. The government still wants to join the EU, and this should continue to drive anti-corruption forward. We are also pretty certain that the EU will notice and will not be particularly pleased. Let’s hope that there is a loud and obvious reaction.
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