Head of administration of supervisory service at the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office has been arrested on charges of “taking large amount of bribe”, Interior Ministry said on February 11.

The Interior Ministry said that the official is accused of demanding USD 180,000 in exchange for a hotel construction permit, or 10% of construction cost, and taking portion of the sum, USD 50,000.

Tbilisi city hall’s supervisory service is in charge of overseeing, among others, compliance with construction rules and procedures.

In a written statement Tbilisi mayor Davit Narmania said that Tbilisi city hall is “interested in establishing objective truth into this case and it will in every way facilitate investigation.”

Nika Melia of UNM opposition party, who ran for Tbilisi mayor’s office and lost to Narmania in last year’s local elections, said that superiors of the arrested official, including head of the supervisory service Gegi Nizharadze, should also be held responsible.

Speaking at a government session on Thursday morning, PM Irakli Garibashvili said that the authorities would “immediately eradicate” corruption cases.

“Our government is distinguished by fight against corruption. Such cases will be immediately eradicated,” the PM said. “Our government has achieved that we are one of the least corrupt countries in the world.”

According to anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International’s annual report, corruption perception level has remained stable in Georgia in 2012-2014 and “there has been no significant progress or backslide during this period of time.”