On August 6, during Shuamtoba Festival in Beshumi, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Head of Ajara Government Zurab Pataradze gave wedding rings made of gold to newlyweds Igor Abuladze and Natia Dekanadze as gifts. 

According to Khulo Gamgeoba, they purchased the rings and originally, Khulo Municipality Gamgebeli was planning to give them to the newlyweds but eventually, the gift was transferred by Head of Ajara Government Zurab Pataradze. 

Khulo Gamgeoba did not confirm the information about Prime Minister Kvirikashvili giving a diamond ring to the couple. 

ISFED obtained photos illustrating that Natia Dekanadze was provided with rings both by the Prime Minister and the head of Ajara Government. Her family has confirmed that she received two rings. 

ISFED believes that the act of vote buying by the Prime Minister and the Head of Ajara Government constitutes an administrative offence or a crime, depending on value of the gifts provided. Under the legislation, if value of a gift provided by a representative of a party to an individual citizen is below GEL 100, the act constitutes an administrative offence and will result in imposition of a fine ten times the value of the gift. 

If value of the gift is above GEL 100, the act can be considered a crime. 

This is not the first time party officials gave valuable gifts to newlyweds during Shuamtoba Festival in pre-election period. According to ISFED, the act of providing a ring made of gold to newlyweds contained signs of vote buying. 

We appeal to the State Audit Office and Georgia’s Prosecution Service to investigate the incident and take further legal actions.