Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 108

108th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 108th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Jun 03, 2025 and Aug 29, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Georgian Economy Minister Replaced, Davitashvili Appointed PM’s Chief Economic Adviser

One noteworthy event has occurred in Georgia, Georgian Dream Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili has been removed from his post and replaced by his deputy Mariam Kvrivishvili, GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a June 24 briefing.

Davitashvili, who has been Georgia’s Economy Minister since 2022, will now serve as Kobakhidze’s chief adviser on economic affairs and as Secretary of the Economic Council, a coordinating body chaired by the Prime Minister.

Davitashvili thanked Kobakhidze for their work together, saying he hoped that “in a new format, we will be able to further accelerate and coordinate the important strategic projects that are crucial for the country’s continued development.”

President Appoints Ilie Bolojan as Prime Minister

Shifting our focus to Romania, President Nicusor Dan appointed Ilie Bolojan, interim leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), as prime minister. The head of state held consultations with the parties and political groups represented in Parliament to nominate a candidate for prime minister.

Political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu said on Friday that new prime minister-designate Ilie Bolojan is perceived as a cold surgeon who will operate without anesthetic, the pick of the Liberal for the position of prime minister being “logical”, but also coming with certain risks.

Thanos Plevris Appointed Migration Minister as Voridis Resigns Amid Corruption Probe

In Greece, New Democracy lawmaker Thanos Plevris has been appointed Minister of Migration and Asylum replacing Makis Voridis who resigned amid a corruption probe over the mismanagement of European Union farming subsidies.

Other changes include the appointments of Haris Theocharis as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yiannis Andrianos as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food, and Christos Dermentzopoulos as Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced.

Singapore Fines Five Payment Firms S$960,000 for Lapses in Anti-Money Laundering Controls

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has fined five Major Payment Institutions (MPI) a total of S$960,000 ($753,000) over breaches of requirements for anti-money laundering (AML) and countering financing of terrorism (CFT) requirements, according to a statement. The firms penalized include Remsea – the one that received the largest fine at S$280,000 – Arcade Plaza Traders, J-Dee Remittance Services, Mobile Community Tech and OxPay SG.

A range of issues were identified including inadequately conducted due diligence of customers, and failure to provide information relating to wire transfer originators and beneficiaries of cross-border wire transfers.

«The MPIs were found to have inadequate AML/CFT controls in place, resulting in multiple breaches of AML/CFT requirements,» the regulator said.

Lelo Leader Mamuka Khazaradze Sentenced to 8 Month Prison, Barred from Office in Georgia

Shifting our attention to Georgia, Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the opposition Lelo party, was sentenced on June 23 to eight months in prison for refusing to appear before the Georgian Dream parliamentary investigative commission tasked with probing alleged crimes by the former UNM government and other officials. He was also barred from holding public office for two years.

Khazaradze did not attend today’s court hearing, where Judge Zviad Sharadze read out the prison sentence. He and his party colleague Badri Japaridze, whose sentence is expected to be announced in several hours, are at Lelo’s office, where law enforcement is expected to execute the judge’s ruling.

Mamuka Khazaradze, founder of TBC Bank and the Anaklia Development Consortium, did not hold public office under the UNM government. In 2019, he launched the public movement Lelo, which soon evolved into a political party. That same year, he and his long-time associate Badri Japaridze were convicted of fraud but were not jailed, as the statute of limitations had expired by the time of the ruling.

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