Scandal in Adjara - former Batumi Mayor Giorgi Ermakov and six high ranking officials of the "Georgian Dream" government are arrested. The case concerns the tender for the "cheap house" social project of 2015. According to the investigation, former mayor and senior officials of the City Hall have spent four million lari on the basis of the submission of fake documents by Azeri company "Convert Georgia".
Giorgi Ermakov is accused of illegal misappropriation of millions of lari and abuse of power. According to the Prosecutor"s Office, in addition to the mayor, vice mayor, Adjara economics and education ministers and high officials of the City Hall participated in the appropriation scheme of budget funds.
According to the case materials, high officials know that "Convert Georgia" has presented a fake bank guarantee from one of the British companies. In spite of this, the City Hall transferred millions of GEL to the company as an advance. The tender winner company did not fulfill obligations and left socially vulnerable people without apartments. Seven senior officials have been detained in the working rooms, but according to the "Curieri" information, despite the numerous evidence, former mayor Giorgi Ermakov and other detainees have not pleaded guilty.
Courier prepared a reportage a year ago about embezzlement of state funds. The then mayor of Batumi categorically denied the allegations and explained the victory of the company "Convert Georgia" with a questionable reputation by compliance with requirements.
The opposition has been talking about a corrupt deal in the social project "Cheap House" and unhealthy interest of high-ranking officials for several years.
"Convert Georgia" is involved not only in the "Cheap House" project in Batumi. The company with a suspicious reputation has won a tender worth of one million lari. In 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs ordered the construction and renovation of a new office, for a total cost more than two million lari part of the amount was given in advance but the company did not fulfill its obligations. Convert Georgia`s founder said in the interviewer with "Courier" a few weeks ago that the former head of the Veterans Affairs Department Irakli Shikhiashvili forced to pay him and there was no money left for the construction.