In the first nine months of 2023, Georgia has witnessed a troubling surge in bribery cases, with 26 instances reported, marking an 8.33% annual increase, as per data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Notably, during this period, overall official crime experienced a significant 28% decrease, making bribery the sole category showing growth.
From January to September, a total of 311 official crimes were identified, with an overall detection rate of 17.36%. Specific details for this period reveal a decline in various offenses, such as a 42.19% decrease in abuse of official authority (37 cases), a 22.46% reduction in exceeding official authority (145 cases), and a 20% drop in forcing explanations or testimonies (16 cases).
However, the concerning rise in bribery cases, constituting 26 incidents, requires focused attention, particularly since giving bribes saw a 25% decrease (6 cases). This calls for targeted measures to address and mitigate the growing challenge of bribery within the country.
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
