Project title: Analysis of Russian Capital in Georgian Business - Stage 1
Supported by: Georgian Information Integrity Program(GIIP) / USAID 
Budget: GEL 23, 200
Duration: October 19, 2021 – February 18, 2022

Due to the fact that the share of Russian companies on the Georgian market is ever-increasing, within the frame of the proposed research project, IDFI aims to update the previous report : “Russian Capital in Georgian Business” after 6 years and supplement it with the research on the new and old companies that are owned by the citizens of the Russian Federation and the individuals affiliated with them. In the report, the work, resources, and connections of the companies owned by the citizens of Russia in the sectors of electricity, water resources, tourism, oil, gas, mining, mineral waters, communications, electric locomotive construction, banking and investments operating in Georgia will be studied in detail. 

The business is often related to socio-political actors and influences on public perceptions. We deem it important to closely investigate such links between political, civil and media actors and business companies owned by the citizens of Russia. This would give us a clear image of funding sources behind some malign political, media and civil actors that actively spread disinformation in the country. For this, IDFI will monitor the donations, lobbying cases and other types of connections between the companies and societal actors in order to map the network of Russian capital and political organizations in Georgia. As a result of the three stage project, IDFI plans to create a map of the Russian capital in Georgia, which will be integrated into the Georgian Disinformation Ecosystem Map.

Project Objectives

- Investigating and mapping the Russian capital in Georgian business and its impact on Georgian political, media, and civil actors; 

- Revealing the connections between the companies owned by the citizens of Russia and political, civil, and media actors affiliated with the government of the Russian Federation;

- Creating an effective tool and source of verified information for the civil society and research organizations as well as for media outlets that are focused on Russian-Georgian relations, Russian propaganda and disinformation issues;

- Providing the Government of Georgia with detailed information about the potential and/or existing malign influence of Russian capital on the Georgian political environment;

Project activities:

- At the first stage, collecting the information from public agencies, the Internet and other open sources about the following four sectoral directions: communications, banking, mining and mineral water.

- Update the company information studied in 2015’s report. 

- Creаting an analytical brief/ interim report.

Project Activities and Budget