Z. Kutsnashvili held the briefing to initiate restriction of bonuses for high officials and to consume spared amounts for coverage of urgent costs of vulnerable groups. It will be the policy of “tight belts” declared by the Government.

He spoke about high officials his initiative applies to: MPs, Ministers and Deputies, Members of Abkhazia and Ajara AR Supreme Councils, Chair and Deputies of Abkhazia and Ajara AR Government, Ministers and Deputies of Abkhazia and Ajara AR, Head and Deputies of the Presidential Administration, Head and Deputies of the Governmental Administration, Assistant to the President in National Security, Secretary and the Deputy of the National Security Council, Assistant to the PM in Security Issues, Secretary and the Deputy of the State Security and Crisis Management Council, Tax Ombudsman and the Deputy, Secretary General of the Parliament and the Deputy, Head and the Deputy of the Revenue Service, Prosecutor General and the Deputy, the President of the National Bank and Board Members, High Council of Justice members, Regulation Commission members, CEC Chair and the Deputy and the Commission, State Governor and the Deputies, Judges, LEPL Legal Aid Service Director, Personal Data Protection Inspector and the Deputy, City Council Chairs, Governors and Mayors. These positions include up to 800 officials. In case of enactment of the draft, they will be restricted for bonuses.

These restrictions will not apply the middle and lower link officials as they have average and low salaries. Z. Kutsnashvili demands accelerated consideration. He elucidated the principle of selection of the officials. “These are the officials, attributed to the list of the officials prescribed under the law on Interest Incompatibility and Corruption in Public Service. Where the spared sums will be consumed is the discretion of the Government as this amount is no higher than 10% of the state budget”.

The restriction will be valid till January 1, 2016 as the new Budget Law will enter into force after that. MPs do not receive bonuses since January 2013.

Z. Kutsnashvili signed the initiative to submit to the Parliament for consideration.