Deputy Head of the Investigation Service of the Georgian Finance Ministry, Guga Tavberidze, announced at the briefing that former deputy minister of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Affairs, Ilia Ghudushauri, who also served as the ministry’s Procurement Tender Commission Chairman, was arrested on charges of abuse of official duties by a state-political official.

According to Guga Tvberidze, the investigation determined that on September 27, 2022, the Ministry of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Affairs announced a tender for the purchase of ambulances. The recipient was the Emergency Response Coordination and Urgent Assistance Centre of Georgia. Three companies participated in the tender. The company, which offered the lower price 8 525 876 GEL, was revealed as the winner.

“The tender was closed by the illegal order of Deputy Minister Ilia Ghudushauri. He abused his official authority by giving an advantage to another company. On May 10, 2023, at his instruction, a new tender was announced, the terms of which were tailored to one specific bidder, as a result of which other companies were unable to participate.

The Ministry unreasonably paid 2,138,196 GEL to a pre-selected company, thereby violating the state’s legitimate interests. An investigation is underway under Article 332, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The Investigation Service will continue operative and investigation activities to reveal other accomplices of the corruptive scam to launch criminal proceedings against them and to prevent corruption,” Guga Tavberidze stated.