The city of Poti, with its geographical location and maritime infrastructure, is one of the most important strategic nodes of Georgia and the region. The country's main port, terminals and free industrial zone make the city a cornerstone of the international logistics chain and economic security. Due to this strategic importance, the process of managing Poti's economic resources requires special transparency and a high standard of integrity.
The main goal of this study is to determine who actually manages the strategic economic sectors of Poti and what types of connections exist between big business and the ruling political elite.
The study was conducted based on the analysis of publicly published information and state databases (Public Registry, State Procurement Agency, etc.). The study reviewed information about those companies for which information retrieval and processing became possible precisely through public databases.
The document covers four main areas:
Fishing and exploitation of Black Sea resources: license allocation practices and exclusive rights of donor companies of the management team;
Maritime infrastructure, ports and terminals: connections of Free Industrial Zone (FEZ) and terminal owners with high-ranking political figures and offshore companies;
Construction and Infrastructure Sector: Public Procurement and Risks of Conflict of Interest in Governing Bodies;
Food production: Privileged relations of large agro-industrial groups with state institutions and tax breaks.
1. Distribution of economic resources by financial and political groups
We can group the data presented in the study according to the main financial, political and kinship ties that control the strategic assets of the city of Poti.
Group I: Davit Tsitsilashvili, Sulkhan Papashvili, Khakhubia’s family and individuals associated with Khvicha Makatsaria (fishing and logistics)
An oligopoly situation has developed in this sector. Five companies hold strategic fishing licenses in the Black Sea. A significant part of the owners of these companies are supporters of the ruling political group, and the state has extended the exclusive fishing licenses of all of them until 2036;
Representatives of companies holding fishing licenses donated 1,488,100 GEL in political donations, with the largest amount - 1,282,000 GEL - to the ruling party;
Among political donors, Tsitsilashvili’s family has donated the most, the total political donations of father and son- Guram and Davit Tsitsilashvili are 410,000 GEL.
Davit Tsitsilashvili owns 3 fishing licenses. In addition, he also owns and manages shares in 28 other companies (including such influential logistics companies as LLC “Logistex”, LLC “Esperance”, LLC “Metal Trade”, LLC “Felin Global” and others);
Dromon LLC is owned by Sulkhan Papashvili, whose business partner is David Tsitsilashvili. Sulkhan Papashvili, along with his brother Lasha Papashvili, is among the 100 richest Georgians according to Forbes. He is a former head of the Special State Protection Service of Georgia;
Among the owners of the two licensee companies are Georgian Dream MP Giorgi Khakhubia andhis family members;
Leading figures in the fishing sector (David Tsitsilashvili, Aleksandre Tavadze) are connected through various business interests to Khvicha Makatsaria, a businessman with Russian influence who ranks 9th on Forbes’ list of the richest Georgians. The founder of Geofish Company LLC, which has a fishing license, is the related LLC “Googolplex”. Khvicha Makatsaria is also a business partner of David Tsitsilashvili (“Aquamarine”);
Along with fishing, Kakhaber Lataria, which is the Khakhubia’s business partner in Iceberg 2 LLC, is represented in the cargo transportation (LLC “Invest Group Georgia”) and terminal sectors (LLC “Poti Transterminal”).
Group II: Current and former political figures affiliated with the ruling party
This group unites members of parliament, former mayors, and high-ranking officials who own the largest strategic businesses in Poti. a) Goderdzi Chankseliani (Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream) and his family:
Goderdzi Chankseliani owns 70% of the shares of Bevrili Group LLC. This company processes grain, has warehouses and a mill in Poti. The company's CEO and 29.84% owner is his brother, Nehru Chankseliani. Bevrili has subsidiaries: Bevrili Baker Group, Bevrili Retail Group (mini markets in Poti), Bevrili Trading Group and Gruzbel;
Corruption risks: The state has forgiven the payment of a total of 5.4 million GEL to Chankseliani’s companies (“Bevrili Group” and “Grande Group”) based on a tax agreement (reduced to 160,000 GEL). There are signs of a conflict of interest, illegal gift acceptance, and concealment of assets on the part of the MP. The Chankseliani brothers donated a total of 113,230 GEL to Georgian Dream and Salome Zurabishvili.
b) Gocha Enukidze (Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream):
40% of "Potpetrol" LLC is owned by "Ibercompany Holding", which is owned by MP Gocha Enukidze. The company owns land on Larnaca Street (690 sq.m.), which is leased to Gulf ("San Petroleum Georgia"). Gocha Enukidze donated 160,000 GEL to Georgian Dream, 60,000 - to Salome Zurabishvili, 60,000 - to ENM
c) Giorgi Khakhubia (Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream) and his family:.
LLC "Iceberg 2": fish processing enterprise, holds 1 fishing license. Owners: Kakhaber Lataria (25%), Ekaterine Khurtsia (25%), MP Giorgi Khakhubia and Maka Khakhubia (25%), Turkish company (25%). Individuals associated with the company donated a total of 893,100 GEL (702,000 GEL - to the "Georgian Dream");
Ekaterine Khurtsia (mother-in-law of MP Giorgi Khakhubia) owns 100% of the shares of Satno LLC. She manages oil depots, customs warehouses, and service facilities.
d) Mamuka Merkviladze (former Vice-President of the Georgian Diaspora in Russia, former Head of the Georgian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy):
LLC "Poti Transterminal": owns a 9-hectare territory (80 thousand containers per year, $15 million investment). 50% owned by Kazakh "PTC HOLDING", 35% - Mamuka Merkviladze, 10% - Kakhaber Lataria;
LLC "Poti Qar Transit" and "Poti Transit": 100% and 95% owned by Merkviladze;
LLC "Invest Group Georgia": transportation services. Owners: Mamuka Merkviladze (35%), Kazakh "PTC HOLDING" (50%). Owns 88,243 sq.m. of land;
Merkviladze also owned a 35% stake in the scandalous Balda Canyon project.
e) Former mayors and high-ranking officials of Poti:
Gocha
Kurdgelia (former mayor) is the director of Caucasian
Metal Terminal LLC and the owner of 15% of the shares (85% of which is owned by a Cypriot offshore company, linked to citizens of Austria and Monaco). He also owns 3.5% of Metalex LLC (ferrous and non-ferrous metals). He has donated a total of 120,000 GEL to political parties;
Vakhtang Alania (former mayor) is the director of Sofmarsh LLC (international freight transportation);
Jemal Inaishvili (former parliamentarian, former head of the Poti Port): Member of the Supervisory Board of Medlog Poti LLC (80% of which is owned by the Swiss Medlog S.A.).
Group III: Maritime Infrastructure, Ports and Terminals
The study showed that current and former officials or their family members are involved in the management of a significant portion of strategic sectors - ports, terminals, cargo transportation companies, warehouses, and oil product trading companies;
This
section includes former Prime Minister Irakli
Georgian Dream MP Gocha
Enukidze,
former Mayor of Poti Gocha
Kurdgelia, Vice-President of
the Georgian Diaspora in Russia and former Head of the Georgian
Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Russia Mamuka Merkviladze and others. This indicates that access to state resources is often the result of political influence;
The owners of the new seaport in Poti are significant donors to the Georgian Dream. The director, owners and representatives of related companies of Pace Georgia donated a total of 1,146,340 GEL. The group manages 264,534 sq m of land in Poti. By decree of Irakli Kobakhidze, they were given 5,239 sq m of land on the seabed for a symbolic price for a period of 49 years;
Registered in the Poti Free Industrial Zone is the company “K and Georgian Spirits” LLC, owned by Vakhtang Karichashvili, a business partner of Ucha Mamatsashvili, a cousin of Bidzina Ivanishvili and a businessman close to the Georgian Dream. It is one of the largest producers of alcoholic beverages in Georgia.
Group IV: Russian capital and offshore influences
Poti's strategic economic sectors are notable for the presence of individuals with Russian connections. Three of them are Russian citizens, and six individuals hold dual citizenship of Georgia and Russia. This group includes terminals whose ultimate beneficiaries are Russian citizens or companies registered in offshore zones.
Channel Energy (Poti) Limited - Georgia LLC:
Owns oil terminals (assets: 60 million GEL in 2020). 75% of the company is owned by a Gibraltar offshore company, the ultimate beneficiary of which is Petrocas Energy International, which was associated with David
49% of which was owned by the sanctioned Russian Rosneft until 2022.
The company also owns a stake in Poti Terminal Holding LLC, along with a Virgin Islands offshore;
Poti Grain Terminal LLC (PGT): 50% owned by TOWER CAPITAL TRADING, registered in the Virgin Islands, whose ultimate owners are Russian citizens Alexei Chemerichko and Marat Shaidaev;
JSC “Poti Storage Solutions”: cargo storage/warehousing. The chairman of the supervisory board is a dual citizen of Russia and Georgia, Jani Mikhailov (he also managed the joint-stock company “Russelois”, whose bankruptcy case is currently underway in Russia. This company also mined manganese in Terjola. Mikhailov owns real estate in Russia);
Poti Logistics Park LLC is engaged in terminal services and owns 22,891 sq m of land. 49% of the company is owned by Andrey Baranov, a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis (and presumably Russia);
Poti Free Industrial Zone LLC: Established in 2008 by the Arab RAKIA. In 2017, 75% was acquired by the Chinese CEFC China Energy (the head was arrested). During this period, Irakli Gharibashvili worked as an advisor to the management company. After the company went bankrupt, the state regained 100% of its shares in 2025.
Group V: Large Georgian Corporations
"Wissol Group" (Pkhakadze brothers):
MP Development LLC: Forbes-listed Levan and Soso Pkhakadzes are on the supervisory board. The company owns the 2,682 sq m shopping center "Poti Mall" in Poti.
Individuals associated with the group have donated 207,700 GEL.
Ucha Mamatsashvili’s partners:
K and Georgian Spirit LLC: Located in the industrial zone of Poti. The largest alcohol producer in Georgia. 80% owned by Vakhtang Karichashvili (Mamatsashvili’s partner, sanctioned by Ukraine). The company’s directors and other Karichashvili companies donated a total of 557,000 GEL to Georgian Dream;
Joint Stock Company “Nikora”:
LLC “Korida”: Meat products manufacturer in Poti. Has received tenders worth 224,932 GEL.
Kacharava-Chioreli Group:
This group owns several large businesses in Poti: LLC “Iceberg Poti” (warehouse-refrigerator, 70% B&J, 30% Kazakh citizen Igor Martynov); LLC “American Monolith”; LLC
“Real Trans” (freight transportation
Poti-Tbilisi-Yerevan-Baku); LLC “Vitamin 2017” (large
importer of bananas and fruits). Levan Kacharava and Levan
Chioreli. They have spent 290,000 GEL in political
donations.
Group VI: Construction Sector and Public Procurement
Companies in this group are largely dependent on government procurement
-
Prime
Concrete LLC has received contracts worth GEL
72,901,804 since 2012. The wife of a former senior defense
official is a member of the Supervisory Board;
-
Gza
Mshenebeli 13 LLC received contracts worth GEL
36,429,600. The company’s owners are donors to the Georgian
Dream;
-
Total
LLC received contracts worth GEL 12,985,565.
2. Key findings of the study
The results of the study reveal that the strategic sector of Poti is concentrated in the hands of a few influential groups. The following trends were identified:
-
Signs
of systemic corruption: Access to state resources
indicates the existence of privileged groups. Most companies, in
exchange for substantial donations to the ruling party, receive
special loyalty and exclusive privileges from the government
(licenses without auction until 2036, tax amnesty worth millions of
lari);
-
Political
loyalty as a condition for business. The majority of
businesses operating in Poti change their political sympathies
depending on which party is in power and make donations on this
basis. Identified individuals and companies donated 5,396,370
GEL. Georgian Dream, its satellite People's Power, and the
candidate they supported in the 2018 presidential elections, Salome
Zurabishvili, received 4,671,980
GEL (approximately 86.5% of the total).
The United National Movement also received political donations when
this party was in power (2012);
-
Russian/Offshore
Influences and Lack of Transparency: Russian interests are
prominent in Poti. 3 Russian citizens, 6 individuals with
dual Russian and Georgian citizenship, and one Russian company own
strategic terminals. Individuals with significant Russian
connections are represented in various sectors. The owners
of 7 large companies are linked to offshore companies registered in
Cyprus, Gibraltar, and the Virgin Islands, which makes it
difficult to identify their beneficial owners and public control;
-
Oligopoly
and interconnected networks: Companies operating in the
fishing, logistics and ports sectors are interconnected with each
other and with the management team (e.g. the networks of the
Tsitsilashvili’s, Khakhubiა’s, Papashvili, Makatsaria and
Pace Group);
Business
interests of officials: Former or current politicians
(MPs: Goderdzi Chankseliani, Gocha Enukidze, Giorgi Khakhubia,
Jemal Inaishvili; former mayors: Gocha Kurdgelia, Vakhtang Alania;
former head of the Georgian diaspora in Russia Mamuka Merkviladze)
are directly involved in the management of strategic sectors. Their
activity confirms that success in business is often determined by
loyalty to the government
