Georgian opposition figure slams Government over pension policy

Georgian opposition politician Roman Gotsiridze has criticised the government’s economic management, arguing that systemic inefficiencies and corruption were limiting the country’s ability to increase pensions.

Speaking on Thursday, Gotsiridze accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of failing to prioritise citizens’ welfare, particularly that of pensioners. He noted that Georgia had approximately 800,000 pensioners, the majority of whom receive age-based pensions.

According to him, the current monthly pension for those under 70 stands at 370 lari, but its purchasing power had significantly declined, now estimated to be roughly half of what it was in 2012.

Gotsiridze pointed to what he described as a stark disparity between nominal increases and real value. While pensions rose from 110 lari in 2013 to current levels, he argued that, in real terms, this represented an increase of only around 25 lari over more than a decade.

He further claimed that correcting policy errors, improving governance, and addressing corruption could unlock substantial resources for pension growth. Instead, he alleged that the country’s resources were being subject to “systematic plunder.”