The recent reports by USAID mentioned the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream Party and the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who left politics last year as the domestic opposition have been accused of running the country from backstage. Moreover, he has established links with Kremlin as well. USAID stated that it had used the material provided by Transparency International Georgia.
“As it has been clear over the past decade that the richest oligarch in Georgia has captured the state, the research by Transparency International Georgia research examined the impunity of corrupt officials, Georgia’s growing economic dependence on Russia, and the oligarch’s secret businesses that have been operating in Russia”, stated the document that formed the grounds of this report.
The USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, is an American federal government agency that upholds the responsibility of foreign aid and development assistance.
The agency funds civil initiatives and numerous projects in several countries, including Georgia.
The documents that is a resource for the USAID employees were prepared by a special team consisting of the organization’s mission in 30 countries.
As per the authors, the guide is intended for employees working in countries with rampant corruption and whose ‘courageous citizens seize windows of opportunities to reform.
USAID, in its 80-page document, cited numerous examples from around the world where governments have benefitted themselves from opportunities to reform and makes a recommendation on how staff should approach work as those opportunities arise, open and close.
