Anri Okhanashvili, the Head of the State Security Service, on Tuesday said Georgia continued to maintain its leading position among corruption-free countries and ranked first in the South Caucasus, Black Sea, Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions.

In his remarks during the presentation of the agency’s 2024 activity report at a plenary session of the Parliament, Okhanashvili noted that throughout 2024, the State Security Service actively carried out operational-search and investigative activities in the fight against corruption. 

These efforts included the identification of vulnerable groups and sectors, as well as the implementation of legally mandated measures aimed at reducing and eliminating corruption risks in the public sector.

Okhanashvili also highlighted that none of the cases brought to court by the Service's Anti-Corruption Agency resulted in an acquittal, which indicated the high standard of investigation within the agency.

Additionally, in 2024, the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service launched an investigation into 23 criminal cases and indicted 39 individuals.

“A few days ago, as a result of operational-search and investigative actions conducted by employees of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service, one of the former state and political officials was detained on the facts of abuse of official authority and legalisation of millions of GEL of illegal income. It raises certain questions as to how he managed to implement the possible criminal scheme”, he concluded.