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100,000 GEL PR Campaign for Regional Governor Vardzelashvili

June 13, 2008


Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

Shida Kartli regional authority spends such vast sums on the PR campaign, which show just how it serves the public interests. We estimated that in 2008 Lado Vardzelashvili has already spent more than 100,000 GEL.

Two years ago in June of 2006, Giga Bokeria, leader of the parliamentary majority, stated in the TV Program “Pirispir”, which was hosted by Inga Grigolia how it was shameful when governmental authorities paid money to create news. Then, MP Badtri Nanetashvili, the owner of the Shida Kartli Regional TV Company “Trialeti” was expelled from the Georgian parliament because he forced the district administrations in Shida Kartli region to apportion huge sums of public funds to his company.

Today, the old practice has been reestablished by the new authority, as some habits are hard to break. In addition, the Tax Inspection has imposed tax arrears of 100 000 GEL on the TV Company of the former MP, and who is the current Deputy to Shida Kartli’s Regional Governor. Short time ago, Vladimer Vardzelashvili, the regional governor, confirmed that Badri Nanetashvili had admitted to the half of his debt; but the remaining 50,000 GEL must be reconsidered under an investigation.

In this way, the investigation means that the argument at the court has to be dropped and the Tax Department set aside its legal claims. In fact, the regional governor assisted in deputy be forgiven for the outstanding taxes.

More precisely, in 2008 Gori Municipality Board has already spent 14,000 GEL for cooperation with various information/public relation agencies. Besides that, 30 000 GEL is apportioned from the district budget for the Lomchabuki Ltd. 15, 000 GEL has already been transferred to the Ltd during the first six months of the year. The LTD issues a local newspaper. In total, the Municipality Board has already spent 29,000 GEL for its PR.

Gori Municipality Board has three specialists employed in the sphere of media relations. Two of them work at the Regional Administration and the third works at the Municipality. More than 1,000 GEL is spent on their salaries. Officially, Gori Municipality Board has already spent 30,000 GEL on its PR in the first half of the current year.

As for Kareli district in Shida Kartli Region, since Badri Nanetashvili occupied the position of deputy regional governor, Kareli District Board has signed a contract with his company and pays 1,000 GEL a month as a fixed fee. Nanetashvili is a resident of Kareli District.

Khashuri District Board exceeded the ‘plan”. When Human Rights Center’s Shida Kartli office submitted the request on public information to the Local Authority, Khashuri district board signed the similar contract with “Trialeti” TV Company. The contract states: “the district administration purchased TV service for 5 000 GEL during following five months.”

Khashuri Municipality Board pays money to the “Media Ltd” to publicize its activities. The Ltd has already received 3,000 GEL for the most recent 6 months. More precisely, several interviews and articles were published in the newspaper “Khashuris Ambebi”. These were commissioned articles and “Media Ltd” issued them.  However, according to the contract, the newspaper had to only publish legal documents of the municipality board. However, in spite of the contract, such information has never been provided by the district newspaper.

Kaspi Municipality Board did not stay behind other districts in Shida Kartli Region and apportioned 6 000 GEL to the “Akhali Gantiadi Ltd” in the first half of the year.

All in all, the amount spent has already reached a colossal figure. This is not well received by many locals, as it just happens that Lado Vardzelashvili has not paid salaries to the regional administration’s personnel (almost 16,000 GEL) and communal obligations (45,000 GEL). However, the regional governor has already paid three times more money for the PR campaign.

P.S. By the way, we have applied to the regional administration regarding the issue on June 15 but they only replied 25 days later. Reportedly, Kaspi Municipality board and village boards signed new contracts within those 25 days. Despite our request, the regional administration did not inform us about the new contracts, and this would constitute a violation of freedom of information procedures.

 

 

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