Transparency International – Georgia Believes Amendments to the Adjara Budget Are Introduced Illegally

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

On July 25, Adjara Supreme Council approved amendments to the 2013 budget according to which funding was increased for Goderdzi resort, Adjara TV-Radio Department, environmental division and Adjara Healthcare Ministry.

Transparency International – Georgia sued aforementioned amendments at the court. TI-Georgia believes, the legislative body of Adjara breached Article 49 Part III of the Election Code when amending the budget. 

The organization states the amendment was illegal particularly in the part of the Healthcare Ministry.

Article 49 (point 3) of the Election Code prohibits implementation of projects previously not included in state or local government budgets in the period between election date announcement and the end of vote count. Moreover, increasing funding for existing budgetary programs, initiating unplanned budgetary transfers or increasing the amount of planned ones is also prohibited during this period. The budgetary amendment is designed for the electorate. 500 000 lari freed from the Ministry was diverted to implement two other projects. According to the law, the released money was not to be spent before final results of the elections are summarized,” Irina Urushadze, chief lawyer of the Batumi office of the organization, said.

TI-Georgia does not oppose other amendments to the budget. “Funding for Ajara TV-Radio Department is an urgent matter and any delay would compromise the department’s existence. In addition, this particular change does not fall into the category of possible misuse of administrative resources for election purposes. We do not protest amended budget for the Goderdzi Resort and Environmental Division because it was caused by urgent matter,” Urushadze said.

Chairman of the Commission for Financial-Budgetary and Economic Issues at the Adjara Supreme Council Aleksandre Chitishvili did not agree with the nongovernmental organization.

“Election code does not regulate the budget of the autonomous republic. Budget of Adjara Autonomous Republic is neither state nor local budget. Election Code clearly defines it. If it were election of Adjara government, we would have breached the code. Since it is presidential election, what shall the healthcare ministry do – stop working? The money was freed and they will use it for the implementation of other program,” Chitashvili said.

TI-Georgia thinks the budget of the Adjara Autonomous Republic is regional budget that is local budget. Consequently, those regulations refer to the aforementioned budgetary amendments too.

TI-Georgia will file a lawsuit to the Batumi City Court in several days. Supreme Council and Adjara Government will be defendant in the case.