Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Information Concealed by the Ministry

October 25, 2012

On October 18, 2012, http://www.commersant.ge/ has published interview with candidate for Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, David Narmania, where candidate for Minister has mentioned project of building of a city “Lazika”. Namely, David Narmania noted that, the construction works of “Lazika” were under the sole responsibility of the Ministry for Regional Development and Infrastructure. “The works which have already been finished, are mostly, the works implemented by a state LTD, governed by the Ministry” – stated Narmania.

Such statement comes into contradiction with the information officially received by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) from the Ministry about a month ago. In particular, on September 5, 2012, IDFI requested from the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure information concerning project plans and costs of ongoing construction works of a new city “Lazika”, being built between Anaklia and Kulevi. On September 11, 2012, the Ministry answered, that they do not possess the requested information about construction of “Lazika”. Evidently, the information which has become accessible for the new candidate for Minister was not considered as public only a month ago, before the 2012 Parliamentary Elections.

It is still not clear, what is the sum spent on this project by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, however, it is to be expected that this information will also become publicly available soon enough.

At the same time, it should be mentioned, that the answer given by the Ministry to our request is an attempt of concealing public information and giving faulty information, thus questions of responsibility of those in charge of preparation and releasing of this letter should be raised (the letter is signed by the First Deputy of Minister, Jambul Bakuradze).

It is clear at the moment, that despite the exact sums spent on “Lazika” construction by the previous government, the new one, which has its own priorities, does not plan to continue the project, while the sums intended for “Lazika” will be redistributed on other goals.

We do hope that the new government will spend budget assets more transparently, then before.

www.opendata.ge

News