On January 22, the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Georgia announced plans to conduct property declaration checks on key government officials, members of parliament, and representatives from the autonomous regions of Adjara and Abkhazia. The decision to scrutinize the property declarations of around 300 officials during the current year is driven by the need to address public concerns and combat potential corruption risks.

Among those subject to investigation are Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, deputies, Members of Parliament, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. The Anti-Corruption Bureau aims to ensure transparency and accountability in public service by examining the financial declarations of high-ranking officials.

While this initiative is intended to strengthen anti-corruption efforts, critics argue that the Anti-Corruption Bureau lacks the necessary institutional independence and might be influenced by political interests. Tina Bokuchava, the Chairperson of the oppositional United National Movement faction, expressed skepticism about the bureau's ability to impartially investigate corruption within the ruling Georgian Dream party. She emphasized the need for an independent anti-corruption agency to address the growing issue of elite corruption in the country. Tina Bokuchava stated, "The current Anti-Corruption Bureau will not be able to fight corruption in any way because it does not have institutional independence. It will always perform a political task with this institutional arrangement, now offered by 'Dream.' Naturally, it cannot and will not study the corruption of high-ranking officials of 'Dream'."

Opponents argue that the current Anti-Corruption Bureau, being aligned with the ruling party, may face challenges in investigating corruption allegations against high-profile officials. The perceived lack of independence raises concerns about the bureau's effectiveness in combating corruption and promoting fair governance. Georgia's integration into the European Union has been tied to addressing corruption issues, and the European Union has emphasized the importance of an independent agency to tackle corruption and expose corrupt practices. However, some critics, including Vaso Urushadze, believe that the existing Anti-Corruption Bureau, closely associated with the ruling party, may hinder Georgia's progress toward European integration by not fulfilling the necessary criteria for an impartial anti-corruption body. Vaso Urushadze stated, "Irakli Garibashvili and 'Georgian Dream' have their own anti-corruption bureau, which is managed by a person appointed by Garibashvili, and no one believes that this bureau will investigate the corrupt deals of the Prime Minister, ministers, and Ivanishvili."