On 10 September 2014, the Minister of Finance of Georgia, Nodar Khaduri, told reporters that Members of the Cabinet of Ministers have not replaced their service cars since 1 October 2012. In addition, he commented upon the research carried out by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) on the bonuses awarded at the Office of the Prosecutor and the fact of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office buying new cars. As Mr Khaduri says, older cars need to be replaced and it is natural that the Office of the Prosecutor would not be able to work with a car worth GEL 1,000.

FactCheck

took interest in the accuracy of Nodar Khaduri’s statement and verified it.

As of 2014, the Government of Georgia consists of 19 Ministries. We requested public information from all of the Ministries on 15 September. We have still not received an answer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia replaced its service cars for the last time on 15 March 2012 according to the substitution rule. The Ministry purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 with the substitution rule in the amount of GEL 62,322. Therefore, since 2012 neither the former nor the incumbent Minister of Culture and Monument Protection has replaced his service car. Based upon the Ministry’s data, service cars have been replaced for a total of five times since 2003.

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, has been using a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 for his transportation from 1 October 2012 onwards. Of note is that the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development was replaced nine times in the period of 2003-2012; the Ministry, however, provided data about only those cars which were purchased with budgetary funds.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Year of Production

Cost (GEL)

Note

2005

Nissan Sunny

30,685

Purchased with budgetary funds

2010

Toyota Prius

67,936

Purchased with budgetary funds

June 2012

Toyota Land Cruiser 200

2012

120,309

Handed over free of charge

The car of the State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues has not been replaced from 1 October 2012 onwards whilst the Minister’s service car was replaced three times in the previous years.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2008

Toyota 4 Runner

21,900 (Residual Balance Cost)

Handed over free of charge

2010

Opel Insignia

58,350

Purchased with budgetary funds

2011

Ford Explorer

68,000

Purchased with budgetary funds

Since 1 October 2012, the service car of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Paata Zakareishvili, remained unchanged as well. The State Minister has been using a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200, produced in 2011, for transportation.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2008

Mitsubishi Pajero

50,199

Handed over by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and transferred to the Security Council in 2010

2010

Lexus GS430

73,668

Handed over by the National Security Council of Georgia

2011

Toyota Land Cruiser 200

125,550

Purchased with budgetary funds

From 2004 to January 2011, cars provided by the Special State Protection Service of Georgia serviced the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and on 20 January 2011 they were handed over to the Office of the State Minister. On 29 June 2013, the Special State Protection Service of Georgia transferred a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 back to the Office of the State Minister.

Production Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2007

Toyota Land Cruiser 100

72,450

Handed over by the Special State Protection Service of Georgia (transferred back on 31 August 2012)

2008

Toyota Land Cruiser 200

89,170

Handed over by the Special State Protection Service of Georgia (transferred back on 31 August 2012)

2007

Lexus  LX 470

150,500

Handed over by the Special State Protection Service of Georgia (transferred back on 31 August 2012)

2011

Mitsubishi Pajero

54,733

Handed over by the Ministry of Finance (in service of the Minister from 9 November to 27 December)

2008

Toyota Ls 460

99,286

Handed over by the Ministry of Defence

The service car of the Minister of Energy of Georgia, Kakha Kaladze, has not been replaced from 1 October 2012 onwards. The Minister uses a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 (balance cost - 93,521) which was handed over to the Ministry free of charge in September 2012.

The service car of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia was replaced on 31 July 2014.

Production Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2012

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

116,697

Handed over by the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia free of charge on 31 July 2014

2010

Toyota Land Cruiser 200

120,018

Purchased with budgetary funds

The service car of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia has not been replaced since 1 October 2012. From the date of the establishment of the Ministry until 1 October 2012, the Minister’s car was replaced three times.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2010

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

110,089

Given as a gift by an individual, Karlo Tsulukidze, in 2010

28 February 2011

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

120,470

Purchased with budgetary funds (the cost includes GEL 25,895 added during the replacement)

2 May 2011

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

122,540

Purchased with budgetary funds (the cost includes GEL 43,675 added during the replacement)

The service car of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia was replaced a total of six times in the period of 2003-2014 with two of the replacements having occurred in the period from 1 October 2012 to today.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Production Year

Start-up Year

Cost (GEL)

Note

2003

Gaz 3110

1997

1998

15,000

Handed over free of charge

2004

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2003

2003

49,600

Handed over under memorandum by LEPL Sustainable Development Projects Implementation Agency

2006

Mercedes Benz E430

2000

2006

36,780

Purchased with budgetary funds

2007

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2007

2007

73,200

Purchased with budgetary funds

2013

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2011

2013

95,180

Handed over free of charge by the LEPL National Forest Agency

2014

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2012

2014

120,080

Handed over free of charge by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (until 31 December 2014)

The service car of the Minister of Agriculture has not been replaced since 1 October 2012. The last acquisition is a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 purchased in December 2011 for GEL 122,330.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2011

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

122,330

Purchased with budgetary funds

2007

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

79,200

Purchased with budgetary funds

The Minister of Justice has been using a Lexus Lx 460, produced in 2010, for transportation since 1 October 2012 onwards.

Production Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2010

Lexus Lx 460

141,000

Handed over free of charge by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on 5 October 2011

2012

Volkswagen Touareg

107,672

Handed over free of charge by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on 11 September 2012

Currently, there are two service cars at the disposal of the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Davit Sergeenko. These are a Toyota Land Cruiser 200, produced and purchased in May 2012 valued at GEL 125,800, and a Chevrolet Cruze, purchased in 2010 for GEL 32,750.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2003

Nissan Maxima

32,110

Handed over by the Single National Employment Foundation (was under the Minister’s disposal from 1 October 2003 to 27 February 2007)

2005

Vaz 21213 Niva

13,700

Handed over by LEPL Social and Health Projects Implementation Centre in 2005

2007

Volkswagen Touareg

99,990

Purchased with budgetary funds

2009

Mitsubishi Pajero

 

49,260

Purchased with budgetary funds

2010

Mitsubishi Pajero

 

61,400

Purchased with budgetary funds

2012

Volkswagen Passat

59,400

Purchased with budgetary funds

2012

Toyota Land Cruiser LC200

125,800

Purchased with budgetary funds

2010

Chevrolet Cruze

32,750

Purchased with budgetary funds

The service car of the Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance was replaced twice from 2009 to 2012. The most recent replacement took place on 23 October 2012 at the request of then Minister, Giorgi Tughushi.

Acquisition Year

Make of Car

Cost (GEL)

Note

2009

Toyota Land Cruiser LC 200

112,682

Handed over free of charge by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development in February 2009

2011

Toyota Land Cruiser LC 200

113,400

Purchased with budgetary funds

2012

Audi Q7

The cost was not specified in the letter received from the Ministry

Handed over by the Penitentiary Department

Since 1 October 2012, the service car of the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure has been replaced once; a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200, purchased for GEL 120,080 on 26 June 2012, was handed over to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection for temporary ownership. From 12 August 2014 onwards, the Minister has been using a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 which was handed over to the Ministry free of charge (residual cost – 129,068).

The service car of the Minister of Finance of Georgia has not been replaced since 1 October 2012 onwards. From 1 January 2012 to August 2012, then Minister of Finance of Georgia, Dimitri Gvindadze, was using a Mercedes Benz E-280, produced in 2006. A Toyota Camry, produced in 2012, and a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200, produced in 2011, have replaced it. From 29 August 2012 to 25 October 2012, the Minister of Finance, Aleksandre Khetaguri, was using a Toyota Camry, produced in 2012, and a Lexus Lx570 for transportation. Since 31 October 2012 onwards, Nodar Khaduri has been using an Audi A6 for transportation. Currently, two cars are servicing the Minister of Finance – the Audi A6 (offered for auction three times but without sale) and a Lexus Lx570.

The Minister of Education and Science, Tamar Sanikidze, is serviced by a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 which was handed over to then Minister, Khatia Dekanoidze, by the LEPL Office of Resource Officers on 19 October 2012. The cost of the car amounts to GEL 128,862. Since 1 October 2012, neither Giorgi Margvelashvili nor Tamar Sanikidze has replaced service cars.

The service car of the Minister of Defence has not been replaced since 1 October 2012. The Minister is using a Lexus Lx570 purchased in 2012 for GEL 168,718 for transportation.

Conclusion FactCheck

studied the situation regarding the Ministers’ service cars. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have still not provided us with information.

As for the remaining Ministries, based upon the data provided by them, the statement of the Minister of Finance cannot be accounted as true because the service cars have been replaced in five Ministries whilst the majority of the Ministers are using the cars which were purchased during the rule of the previous government. It should be noted, however, that since 1 October 2012 onwards, none of the Ministers has purchased a new car with budgetary funds.

FactCheck concludes that Nodar Khaduri’s statement:  “None of the Ministers has replaced [his or her] car (since 1 October 2012),” is MOSTLY TRUE.

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