The Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara, Lado Mgaloblishvili, stated: "When I became the Deputy Minister, there was GEL 2 to 2.5 million allocated for infrastructural projects whilst the budget for infrastructure this year is GEL 8 million. I carried out rehabilitation work for three times as many projects than the United National Movement."

FactCheck

took interest in the accuracy of the statement.

Lado Mgaloblishvili was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara in November 2012. According the information of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara, GEL 4 million was allocated for infrastructure projects in the 2012 budget (not GEL 2.5 million). The Ministry plans to spend GEL 8,296,200 in 2016. Of this amount, GEL 5,337,000 is allocated for the rehabilitation of school infrastructure and GEL 2,959,000 will be spent for the improvement of the infrastructure of facilities (boarding schools, school libraries, sport arenas, laboratories and medical establishments) under the Ministry’s control.

This year, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara is carrying out a target programme entitled Improvement of Public School Infrastructure. The programme’s budget is GEL 5,336,000 and Lado Mgaloblishvili is in charge. Throughout 2016, in contrast to 2012, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara plans to carry out programmes to improve the infrastructure of boarding schools and equip them with a necessary inventory, deliver equipment for public schools and laboratories, facilitate the improvement of the development of sport in public schools, develop public school libraries and support the scientific-research activities of higher educational institutions whilst developing their infrastructure. The total amount of funding for these programmes is GEL 2,959,300.

In regard to the comparison of the number of activities, the information received from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara enabled FactCheck

to determine that the number of rehabilitation projects in the period of 2005-2012 (the United National Movement was in power until October 2012) amounts to 185 with GEL 45,783,000 having been spent. In the period of 2013-2016, a total 70 rehabilitation projects were conducted with GEL 18,930,000 having been allocated.

Conclusion The Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara, in comparing the amount of money allocated for education infrastructure, stated that GEL 2 million (in fact, it was GEL 4 million) was spent in 2012. As determined by FactCheck, 185

rehabilitation projects have been completed in Ajara since 2005 until the appointment of Lado Mgaloblishvili with GEL 45,783,000 having been spent. From the date of his appointment until the present day, GEL 18,930,000 was spent for 70 rehabilitation projects.

Therefore, Lado Mgaloblishvili’s statement is FALSE.