Georgia Adopts Anti-Corruption Strategy & Action Plan

Georgia’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reports that the government has confirmed an Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2017-2018.

“As a result of anti-corruption reforms, Georgia has achieved the greatest success among Eastern European countries in combating corruption and has one of the lowest levels of corruption among European countries, a fact confirmed by many international studies and by the recent success when Georgia became Chair of the Open Government Partnership,” the Ministry reports.

The statement reads that the complex policies and bold steps of the government in Georgia have been successful and productive in creating a transparent and accountable public governance system and a free environment in the country.

“The Government of Georgia understands that the fight against corruption cannot be a one-time reform or time-limited process. Fighting and preventing corruption is a continuous process and is actively underway even now,” the MoJ said.

The Ministry underlines that their aim is to increase access to information and the involvement of citizens, improve the prevention mechanisms of corruption, utilize technologies and innovations in the state governance of public service and involve municipalities in the implementation process of the anti-corruption program.

The new anti-corruption strategy and action plan were elaborated by the Interagency Coordinative Council with the involvement of 38 state bodies, 14 Non-Governmental Organizations and three business representatives.

The new Anti-Corruption Action Plan has 16 priorities, more than 60 events and over 200 activities.

“Three of these priorities; prevention of corruption in the sphere of sports, in infrastructural projects, and in municipalities, are absolutely new in Georgia and their aim is to involve more sectors in unified anti-corruption policies,” the ministry stated.

The statement reads that the main goals of the new strategy are: the establishment of a fair salary system in public service, elaboration of a communication strategy about corruption issues with the public, establishment of a transparent salary and bonus system for prosecutors, refining articles referring to ethics and interest conflicts in relation to judges and prosecutors, implementation of an electronic program of judicial disciplinary proceedings and solving the issues of salary supplements and bonuses for judges, adoption of a law on freedom of information, refining of an administrative mechanism to make state-covered health programs more transparent, empowerment of Civil Advisers’ Councils in municipalities, improvement of control mechanisms for infrastructural projects, and more.

Thea Morrison