Affiliation: Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia, prosecutor of the Department to Investigate Offenses Committed in the Course of Legal Proceedings, Doctoral student at Caucasus University

Abstract: The research includes detailed characterization of influence peddling. It demonstrates the full description and structure of influence peddling. Factual and subjective descriptions of influence peddling, as well as key aspects of qualification are also discussed. Main attention is paid to the definition of the term– influence. According to the opinions of various authors, this term is quite general, abstract and ambigious, therefore it is necessary the term to be interpreted by the court while hearing individual criminal cases. The article discusses also theoretical and practical differences between influence peddling and bribe-taking. The research includes detailed description of crime provocation and emphasizes its difference from the abetting crime. Central attention is paid to the issue of provocation from governmental bodies during secret investigative activities. At the end of the research the author provides several recommendations about the definition of the term– influence and on the issue of making standards of crime provocation stricter and closer to the European standards.