Georgian Railway Head Under Investigation Again: David Peradze Suspected of Embezzlement

David Peradze, the head of Georgian Railway, has allegedly embezzled approximately USD 50 million from the state company’s funds and vanished, according to exclusive information obtained by RAILTARGET.

Peradze, who has been in charge of the state-owned railway company since 2017, is now reportedly the subject of a nationwide manhunt.

This isn’t the first time Peradze has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Last year, an investigation revealed that he failed to declare a luxurious villa in Tbilisi in his asset declarations, which government officials are required to file annually. Although Peradze claimed the villa was still under construction, footage showed a fully completed and livable home. Additionally, his wife’s expensive collection of luxury items and an undeclared car raised more red flags.

Despite these issues in the past, Peradze continued to lead the Georgian Railway, a key part of the country’s trade network. His leadership during a troubled modernization project has been criticized, with the rail system struggling to handle increased demand due to delays and inefficiencies.

With Peradze now under suspicion of embezzlement, the situation raises serious concerns about how Georgia’s public institutions are managed. This is particularly concerning as Georgia has recently gained candidate status for the European Union.

Source: RAILTARGET