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.