Auto-Mania in Adjara Government

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Adjara Supreme Council will no longer purchase Jeep of 2014. Supreme Council Chairman Avtandil Beridze changed decision after the society expressed discontent about his intention. Legislative body of Adjara Autonomous Republic was going to pay 83 300 lari for the newest model of jeep.

Currently, Toyota Prado and Toyota Camry serve Avtandil Beridze. However, the council chairman explained that old cars have problems. “I travelled to Keda district the other day and had to return half way back because the car went wrong. Public Relation Service and Human Rights Commission were set up in the Supreme Council and they also need transportation.”

Representatives of the central government also expressed concern about the intention of the Supreme Council. On December 14, Vice-Prime Minister of Georgia Kakhi Kaladze made statement: “Apparently, chairman of the Adjara Supreme Council Avtandil Beridze, who is member of the Georgian Dream too, is not fully aware of his responsibilities. This fact caused fair astonishment in the society. He should personally understand that and refrain from purchasing luxurious cars with the budget funds, when those cars are not urgently necessary for the implementation of his duties. Georgian Dream’s political council also intends to discuss Beridze’s case at the next session and will pass relevant decision.”

Adjara Supreme Council announced simplified online tender on the purchase of 2014 model jeep on December 6 (tenders.procurement.gov.ge/public/?go=101232&lang=ge). The applications submission deadline was December 12. Only Toyota Center Tbilisi participated in the tender and won it. On December 12, head of office at the Adjara Supreme Council Ramaz Bolkvadze sent letter to the Toyota Center Tbilisi and requested the administration to arrive in the Supreme Council to sign the agreement. On December 14, tender commission of the Supreme Council issued tender annulment protocol.

It is noteworthy that in accordance to the tender announcement published on the website of the State Procurement Agency, in December of 2012, Adjara Supreme Council purchased Pikap of 2012 for 32 000 lari and in August 2013 Supreme Council purchased jeep of 2012 for 34 000 lari. 

Adjara legislative body was not the only governmental agency which spent budget funds on luxurious cars. Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Adjara purchased 2013 jeep for 73 500 lari. Ministry of Agriculture in Adjara paid 37 800 lari for the jeep. Head of state procurement unit at the Ministry Temur Bolkvadze said the Ministry had purchased the jeep for the agriculture development unit of the ministry.