A new report by Transparency International Georgia reveals that leading figures of the ruling Georgian Dream party, including senior officials and their families, are increasingly investing in European Union (EU) countries by acquiring real estate, registering businesses, and securing EU citizenship for family members.
The report identifies 18 individuals linked to the ruling party with properties or corporate ties across 11 EU states, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Notable investments include multi-million euro properties in Paris and Berlin, business holdings in the Netherlands and Czech Republic, and company registrations used to manage assets. Notable examples include Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s founder, who holds French citizenship and owns multiple properties in Paris; Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, whose family acquired a multimillion-euro apartment in France; and various ambassadors, MPs, and former ministers with assets in Germany, the Netherlands, and Central Europe.
These findings come as Georgia faces increasing political friction with the EU and the United States (US): the country’s integration into the EU has stalled amid accusations of democratic backsliding, anti-Western rhetoric, and controversial legislation, raising concerns over authoritarianism and closer alignment with non-Western powers. The October 2024 Georgian election and the government’s response to ensuing protests led the European Union and the United States to introduce targeted measures, including the suspension of diplomatic visa exemptions for Georgian officials. Broader sanctions remain under discussion, with some EU member states opposing further escalation.
However, despite growing calls from the European Parliament, the EU has not yet imposed coordinated sanctions on Georgian Dream officials. Hungary and Slovakia continue to block broader measures, and the 18 individuals named in Transparency International’s report currently face no EU-wide asset freezes or travel bans.
The transparency International report underscores a clear contradiction: while official rhetoric distances Georgia from the West, key political figures are deepening their personal and financial ties to Europe by investing and securing citizenships for themselves and their families.