Georgia’s Health Ministry to audit vulnerable families database amid fears of widespread benefit fraud

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has welcomed the announcement by Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze regarding the review of the database of socially vulnerable families, describing the reform as vitally important.Kaladze emphasised that the granting or withdrawal of social assistance has nothing to do with party affiliation, regardless of how some choose to frame it.“Whenever the question of putting a particular area in order arises, whenever reform is on the table, the speculation and falsehoods inevitably follow. We saw the same thing with prices. Whatever the direction, the moment the government says that change is needed, what we hear in response are lies.Regarding socially vulnerable families, implementing this reform is of utmost importance, and I wholeheartedly welcome it. I have expressed this sentiment on numerous occasions at government meetings; my remarks are on record, should anyone wish to consult them. Despite our country’s ongoing development and economic progress, there remain, regrettably, families and individuals who require our solidarity and support.For as long as such families exist, the state is duty-bound to do everything in its power to stand beside them and help them, whether through healthcare programmes or social support schemes,” Kaladze said.He noted that the database has not been updated since the pandemic period.“The announcement we heard from the Health Minister serves a single purpose: to better support those families and individuals who are in the greatest need today and require our assistance. I recall that during the pandemic, decisions were made regarding support, and those decisions were appropriate at the time. However, circumstances have now changed. Therefore, the database of socially vulnerable families must be reviewed. During that difficult period, many people who received state support were added to the lists. As far as I am aware, the database has not been properly updated since then, which is precisely why the measures outlined by the Minister are so important,” Kaladze said.The Mayor was equally forthright in dismissing as falsehoods any attempt to link the granting or withdrawal of social assistance to party-political considerations.Georgia’s Ministry of Health has announced it is commencing a review of the unified database of socially vulnerable families.

A case against me in Georgia was fabricated on the orders of foreign patrons – I will do everything to strengthen fraternal relations between the Georgian and Russian peoples, former Prosecutor General of Georgia Otar Romanov-Partskhaladze said in an interview with the Russian state outlet Moskovskij Komsomolets.“I am being persecuted for fabricated crimes, for something I did not commit. They are trying to take away my historical homeland. International criminal groups have declared a hunt against me. I am not afraid. All of this best confirms the correctness of the path I have chosen. I am ready to sacrifice my life for the happy future of our children.It is time to leave behind the grievances of the past, created by the enemies of our nation, and move forward. The Georgian people must open their eyes and understand who acts in their interests and who weaves intrigues, serving foreign patrons and destroying our identity, traditions, and unity. This is how we will be able to preserve our sovereignty, our traditions, and our faith,” Partskhaladze said.He also spoke about strengthening “fraternal relations” between the Georgian and Russian peoples.“I have walked a long and dangerous path in the service of my homeland – Georgia. And today I have found myself exactly at the point from which I know a new chapter will begin in relations between our fraternal nations…Orthodox faith unites us…I will do everything to strengthen fraternal relations between the Georgian and Russian peoples, based on respect, unity, and joint resistance to external threats,” Partskhaladze stated.For reference, the former Prosecutor General Otar Romanov-Partskhaladze is accused of organizing the contract and financially motivated intentional murder of businessman Levan Jangveladze. He has been charged under Article 25/109, subparagraph “n” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns organizing a contract killing for financial gain. In addition, Partskhaladze has been charged in the so-called call center case.Partskhaladze has been sentenced to pre-trial detention in absentia.

In a significant decision for international arbitration in France, in Namakhvani Hydro Electric Power Plant case, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the termination of USD 400 million by the Georgian government in favor of Enka Renewables LLC until the final verdict.The case has to do with a USD 800 million Namakhvani hydropower project for which the Georgian government and Enka Renewables LLC concluded a BOO (Build–Own–Operate) Agreement in 2019.According to the decision of the Paris Court of Appeal, large‑scale protests by local communities and environmental groups disrupted the project, and Enka terminated the BOO Agreement in 2021, invoking force majeure and Georgia’s alleged events of default.In 2022, Enka initiated ICC arbitration seeking compensation for termination and the value of transferred assets.On 13 November 2024, the arbitral tribunal rendered a final award, followed by an addendum dated 6 January 2025, holding that the termination was and ordering Georgia to pay approximately 400 million USD.The Georgian government submitted three requests to the Paris court: annulment of the decision, refusal of the enforcement permit, and suspension of payment. Enka Company requested the enforcement permit.The Court first examined whether the award fulfilled the conditions for exequatur under Article 1514 CPC. Georgia argued that the award violated international public policy, claiming that the tribunal had relied on a “Financial Model” annexed to the record without ensuring adversarial debate. The Court recalled the narrow scope of its review under Article 1514 CPC. Only a manifest breach of international public policy, apparent from the face of the award, can justify refusing exequatur. After examining the award, the Court did not find such a breach. The Court confirmed that the existence of annulment proceedings did not influence the granting of exequatur, which is assessed autonomously under Article 1514 CPC.Having granted exequatur, the Court then examined Georgia’s request for a stay of enforcement under Article 1526. Georgia argued that immediate enforcement of a USD 400 million award would gravely affect essential public budgets, representing 60% of the national defence budget and around 250% of the Ministry of Justice’s annual allocation.The Court accepted this evidence as demonstrating a serious and concrete impact on Georgia’s ability to meet vital public functions.The Court also noted that Enka was a special‑purpose project company created solely for the Namakhvani project and no longer carrying any business activities or holding significant assets.In the Court’s view, this increased the risk that sums paid in enforcement might not be recoverable should the award ultimately be annulled. These combined factors constituted a grave infringement of Georgia’s rights, justifying a suspension of enforcement.The Court therefore ordered a stay of enforcement of the award and its addendum until the decision on the annulment application is rendered.

Two Turkish citizens, detained by officers from the Counter-Intelligence Department of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), have been remanded in custody whilst under investigation for allegedly attempting to acquire radioactive material through unlawful means.Tbilisi City Court Judge Davit Kurtanidze handed down the ruling.At the hearing, the prosecution moved for a custodial remand, citing risks of flight, destruction of evidence, and reoffending. The defence took issue with this position. The lawyer representing one of the detainees argued that his client had accompanied a friend to the Tskaltubo district with the intention of purchasing gold for resale in Türkiye, and that no unlawful intent had been present. Counsel noted that his client is a married man with three children and a pregnant wife, works in construction, and does not possess the funds necessary to purchase radioactive material. As an alternative to custody, the defence proposed a bail of 5,000 lari.One of the accused is exercising his right to silence; the other denies the charges.Following the hearing, prosecution lawyer Elizbar Gozalishvili stated that the court had fully accepted the prosecution’s position. He added that the intended purpose of acquiring the radioactive material was to remove it from Georgia, though the final destination country remains unknown to investigators at this stage.According to the prosecutor, the case file contains a substantial body of evidence corroborating the charges against the accused, including covert audio and video recordings as well as witness testimony. He further stated that the defendants had planned to pay the material’s asking price of three million US dollars in cryptocurrency.Separate hearings were also held on the same day for several individuals detained by the State Security Service in connection with illegal logging, the unlawful inflation of the K-2 coefficient, unauthorised construction, and bribery. All were remanded in custody.

The Head of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, Irakli (Dachi) Beraia, and the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, Tamar Makharashvili, signed a memorandum of cooperation.The aim of the memorandum is to coordinate the awareness-raising of students of educational institutions on tax and customs issues through jointly developed multi-faceted training programs. In addition, within the framework of the memorandum, representatives of the Revenue Service will hold informational and educational meetings for participants in educational projects (taking into account age groups) at citizen service centers throughout Georgia, as well as at economic clearance zones and customs checkpoints, which will increase their awareness of tax and customs procedures and principles, as well as ensure an increase in the level of voluntary compliance in society.The meeting was attended by Levan Tsitelashvili, Deputy Head of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, and heads of various departments of the agency.The memorandum enters into force on the date of its signing by the parties.