A Look at the “Corruption Map”: Transparency International Exposes Georgia’s Corrupt Elite – And the State? Silent.

Once again, Transparency International Georgia has done what the country’s law enforcement authorities seem consistently unwilling to do: they’ve taken a hard look. And not just that—they’ve now published an interactive “Corruption Map” (https://www.corruptionmap.ge) that visualizes publicly available evidence of high-level corruption cases in Georgia. If that’s not a sorely needed tool in a country where corruption at the top is as routine as the morning coffee in government buildings, I don’t know what is.

Because what this map reveals is, to put it mildly, shocking: 231 documented cases of “elite corruption” casting a dark shadow over Georgian politics, the judiciary, and public administration. Involved in these scandals: 207 high-ranking officials, including 34 ministers or deputy ministers, 37 MPs, 16 judges, and 62 local officials. Just in the past month, seven new cases were added. Apparently, corruption is as tireless as the government that shields it.

Of Kleptocracy and Other Everyday Georgian Experiences

While Georgia continues to earn mediocre scores on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, a clear trend is emerging: petty, everyday bribes may have decreased—but grand, elite-level corruption has embedded itself so deeply into the state apparatus that experts are now openly speaking of “state capture.” Yes, you read that right: Georgia is steering straight toward a kleptocracy, where the political elite seemingly treat the state treasury as their personal piggy bank.

The influence of the “founding father of the ruling party” (no names needed—everyone knows who’s meant…) over the state’s institutions is already being cited by international observers as a textbook example of state capture. No surprise, then, that not a single one of the 231 documented corruption cases has led to any serious legal consequences for those at the top. Sure, on the local level, a few mayors and a former governor have been arrested—the sacrificial pawns of Georgia’s anti-corruption policy.

Investigations? Oh, Come On—This Isn’t Scandinavia!

Particularly embarrassing is the role of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the State Security Service (SUS). Despite their legal obligation to investigate upon becoming aware of potential crimes, these agencies have… well… simply ignored most cases. Inquiries from Transparency International? Met with silence. Publicly available information on any initiated proceedings? Nowhere to be found. Welcome to Georgia’s “transparency” state.

For years, it’s not just Georgian civil society calling for an independent anti-corruption agency. The EU, the OECD, and the European Parliament have been repeatedly stressing that high-level corruption must be tackled seriously. The EU Commission has even made the independence of such an agency a prerequisite for candidate status. But as long as investigations remain in the hands of institutions that are politically subordinated and infiltrated by the ruling party, that hope remains wishful thinking.

“Corruption Map” as an Uncomfortable Mirror

With this new platform, Transparency International Georgia provides not only an impressive database but also an uncomfortable mirror for Georgian society—and above all, for the government. Every single case is documented with details, including the individuals involved, the nature of the allegations, and the current status (spoiler: almost everywhere it reads “no investigation”).

What’s especially perfidious: Georgian authorities don’t even publish justified explanations for why investigations weren’t launched. In doing so, Georgia is not only violating international standards but also its own laws. But who cares about the rule of law when power and influence need to be protected?

A Map of Mistrust—or of Hope?

The “Corruption Map” is more than just a digital archive: it’s a tool of democracy and public accountability. It equips journalists, activists, and citizens with a means to make corruption visible and put pressure on those responsible. At the same time, it exposes Georgia’s anti-corruption policy as a farce—a game whose rules have long been written by those who were supposed to enforce them.

Ironically, the solution has been on the table for years: the creation of an independent anti-corruption agency with real powers, insulated from political interference. But as long as the Georgian government prefers to protect its own networks rather than clean house, the “Corruption Map” will remain a digital memorial to a state sabotaging itself.

But who knows—perhaps this very map is the first step in breaking these structures. Or at least a digital testimony that the Georgian public refuses to close its eyes to corruption, which has long shifted from exception to normalized reality.

And the state? It just sits there, twiddling its thumbs—hoping no one looks too closely. Too bad: now everyone can see.