Menu
Shuki Award Round IV shortlisted candidates are:
Eka Kevanishvili’s report concerns the construction of a multifunctional hotel complex consisting of 350 apartments by the construction company “Orbi” in the Bakhmaro resort. In early January 2024, the company “Orbi” published the first photo renderings of the future building and announced the sale of apartments. Later, it was revealed that the company is investing $100 million in Bakhmaro. “Orbi” owns a total of 10 hectares of land in Bakhmaro, with over 4 hectares of this land being granted by the state at a symbolic price of 1 GEL.
In the last five years, more than 4.5 million GEL has been spent in Adigeni municipality under the “Village Support Program.” Of this, at least 1.5 million GEL was awarded through direct procurements to employees of the Adigeni Municipality and its legal entities, their relatives, and individuals connected to the “Georgian Dream” party. The Southern Gate article investigates exactly to whom the Adigeni Municipality is signing contracts and who ultimately benefits from the state budget money allocated under the “Village Support Program.”
Tako Peikrishvili’s article discusses the drinking water issues in Svira, Atsquri, and Vale. Despite spending around 10 million GEL over the last ten years to solve the water problem in these three settlements of Akhaltsikhe municipality, the issue remains unresolved. Some of the tenders for water projects in these villages were won by companies belonging to former or current employees of Akhaltsikhe municipality (including the former mayor), while others were won by individuals connected to the local government or the ruling party, who have also been accused of corruption.
Liza Tsitsishvili’s report tells the story of the film “Restless memories,” directed by Latvian filmmaker Elina Lange Yonatamishvili in 2019, which depicts Russian aggression in bombed Georgian villages.
The investigative report by anonymous authors reveals the Russian assets of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family. Although Ivanishvili has denied ties to Russia since entering politics, journalists discovered that he continued to expand his real estate in Russia after 2012. The family’s latest acquisition is dated to 2024.
Studio Monitor’s investigative report uncovers the undeclared income and luxurious European lifestyle of Romeo Mikautadze, a high-ranking official from the “Georgian Dream” party. The investigation aims to answer how the wife of the former Ministry of Economy official managed to acquire an apartment in a historic district of Madrid. Journalists gathered information about the Mikautadzes’ construction and hotel businesses, valuable real estate, and the official’s interests in hydropower construction.
Netgazeti’s report covers the case of two young men, aged 19 and 23, who face 3 to 6 years in prison for damaging a temporary barrier at the entrance to the legislative building on the day of the third hearing of the Russian law. The journalist questions whether a prison sentence of up to 6 years is proportional for damage estimated at 400 GEL. The damage threshold for which one can face years of imprisonment is set at just 150 GEL. The law providing for such penalties was introduced into Georgia’s Criminal Code following the protests in March last year.
According to his asset declaration, Tbilisi’s Vice Mayor, 42-year-old Irakli Khmaladze, is officially homeless. Studio Monitor’s investigative report explores his assets, which have grown to around 2 million GEL since he began his public service career.
The April Media article discusses the homophobic propaganda of the “Georgian Dream” party, starting from May 17, 2013, to the present. The ruling party continues to pass laws, such as one banning “LGBT propaganda,” and builds election campaigns around these themes.
This article focuses on the persecution of activists during protests and their serial arrests as a means of suppressing dissent. Police testimony has become the primary tool in the courts’ hands. Studio Monitor attempted to show how the government in Georgia fights against freedom of expression and why the courts turn a blind eye to objective evidence while imposing fines on activists.
The iFact article examines how the government artificially increases administrative resources by inflating positions within governmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The authors explore how “invented jobs” have emerged to employ the socially vulnerable and how more public servants are now dependent on the budget, ensuring more guaranteed votes for the ruling party during elections.
Project 64’s report covers the protests at Balda Canyon, where for the past nine months, residents have been camping in protest against the leasing of Balda Canyon to a private company for 40 years. Meanwhile, the company and the state remain firm in their positions.
Studio Monitor reports on dozens of Georgian citizens attempting to reach America through the risky route via Mexico. At the same time, by supporting the Russian law on so-called agents, the Georgian government rejected the “MEGOBARI” act initiated in the U.S. Congress, which, among other benefits, would have facilitated the visa regime between Georgia and the U.S.
