The Georgian Dream released a statement, rejecting what it called the latest disinformation from the "Transparency International Georgia regarding asset declaration of Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder/Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream.

"The mentioned organisation is once again trying to mislead the public with speculative statements and spread falsehoods about the founder of Georgian Dream.

To clarify for the public: Bidzina Ivanishvili fulfilled his obligation to submit an asset declaration, which he was required to do as a parliamentary candidate during the 2024 parliamentary elections. He completed the declaration on October 4, 2024. Radio Liberty requested this declaration from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and published an article about Ivanishvili`s declared assets in Georgia, Russia, and France on October 31, 2024.

As for Transparency International Georgia`s claim that the obligation to fill out an asset declaration arose due to Bidzina Ivanishvili`s "short-term tenure as a member of parliament after the elections", we want to remind the organization that, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Combating Corruption, "a person is obliged to submit an asset declaration within two months of being appointed to a position". Also, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Combating Corruption, a person is exempted from the obligation to submit an asset declaration if he or she is assigned to perform the duties of an official in a public institution for a period of no more than 2 months.

According to the same law, "a candidate for membership of the Parliament of Georgia is obliged, within 1 week from the date of registration as a candidate for membership of the Parliament, to fill out and submit a declaration of property status of an official in a simplified form established by the Government of Georgia, unless, in accordance with this article, he has filled out a declaration in that year.

Based on these legal provisions, it is clear that Transparency International Georgia is spreading falsehoods. The 11th convocation of the Parliament Georgia recognised Bidzina Ivanishvili`s mandate at its inaugural session on November 25, 2024, and it was terminated at his own request on December, 10 2024 - meaning he held the mandate for less than two months", - reads the statement.