On February 10, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili published the results of Transparency International’s (TI) study, comparing Georgia’s score in the Corruption Perceptions Index with those of other countries. According to Papuashvili, Georgia remains the unconditional leader in the region and outperforms seven EU member states and ten NATO member states. “As for EU candidate countries, Georgia is, of course, ahead of all of them,” he wrote. He further claimed that these facts once again reveal the reality and that “Brussels must stop its policy of retribution against Georgia through disinformation campaigns.”
Along with Papuashvili’s statement, the information was disseminated by pro-government media outlets (Imedi; Radio Imedi; POSTV) as well as news agencies (GHN; Reportiori; Resonancedaily; ambebi.ge; Spnews; Mega TV; Media Holding Kvira).
he Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks 182 countries worldwide based on perceived levels of public-sector corruption. Countries are scored on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst outcome and 100 the best. While the information published by Shalva Papuashvili regarding Georgia’s regional leadership and higher score compared to EU candidate countries and certain NATO member states is accurate, neither the Parliament Speaker nor pro-government media inform readers that Georgia’s score (50) reflects a three-point decline and represents the country’s lowest result since 2013. These details are essential for forming a full picture of Georgia’s performance in this area, yet they are omitted from the posts and articles disseminating the information. As a result, the CPI data is being presented in a manipulative manner.
How Has Georgia’s Corruption Perception Score Changed Over the Years?
Georgia’s score in the 2025 index is based on the following sources: the Bertelsmann Transformation Index, the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, Global Insight’s Country Risk Ratings, Freedom House’s Nations in Transit report, the Varieties of Democracy project, and the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey. According to Transparency International Georgia, the “average score indicates that petty bribery is not widespread in the country. However, the index does not measure such complex forms of corruption as state capture and kleptocracy.”
According to Transparency International’s study published on February 10, Georgia scored 50 out of 100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, placing the country 56th globally. While the Parliament Speaker and pro-government media emphasize Georgia’s leading position in the region, they ignore the fact that the country lost three points compared to 2024 and received its lowest CPI score since 2013.
In 2013, Georgia scored 49 points in the CPI. In the following years, the score improved, reaching a peak of 58 points in 2018. Compared to the 2018 result, Georgia has experienced an eight-point decline.
What Does Transparency International Say About Georgia?
Transparency International cites Georgia (alongside Tunisia and Peru) as an example to illustrate how new laws have been adopted against organizations that monitor and criticize the government.
“[…] governments take actions such as introducing new laws to limit access to funding, or even disband organisations that scrutinise and criticise them. Such laws are often paired with smear campaigns and intimidation. In these contexts, it is harder for independent journalists, civil society organisations and whistleblowers to speak out against corruption freely. It is also more likely that corrupt officials can continue misusing their power.”
In its regional reports, the organization highlights countries that have undergone significant changes. In the report on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which excludes Eastern European EU member states, Georgia’s regression is specifically noted. The report states that rising corruption risks in Georgia are being accelerated by “democratic erosion.” It further notes that the ruling party has adopted laws that criminalize the legitimate activities of non-governmental organizations and label independent voices as “foreign agents,” accompanied by politically motivated prosecutions, restrictions on the media, and violent crackdowns on protesters and journalists. The key regional findings also state:
“Georgia (50) illustrates how democratic backsliding fuels corruption. Politically motivated prosecutions, restrictions on media, laws targeting NGOs, and elite capture have weakened independent oversight, creating an environment where corruption can thrive.”
International studies are often subject to manipulation. Myth Detector has previously published analyses addressing similar issues related to various indices:
- Is Georgia Ahead of EU Countries in Terms of Media Freedom and Democracy Index?
- What Is Georgia’s Internet Freedom Score, and How Is It Covered by Pro-Government Media?
- V-Dem Index on Civil Society Disseminated Without Context
- What Details Should Be Considered when Discussing the Reduction of Absolute Poverty Rates?
- How Do Representatives of The Ruling Party Manipulate World Bank Data?
- Is Georgia ahead of seven EU countries and eleven NATO countries in terms of rule of law?
- Is the “Good Government Index” Being Prepared at the Request of the European Commission, and What Does It Reveal About Georgia?
- “Freedom in the World”: What the Freedom House Report Says and How Pro-Government Media Covered It
