According to Guga Tavberidze, Deputy Head of the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance, former Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs Ilia Ghudushauri has been detained for abuse of official powers.

At a press briefing, Tavberidze explained that Ghudushauri sought to give preference to another company, which led to the suspension of a tender for the procurement of emergency medical transport vehicles announced on September 27, 2022 - done under his unlawful instruction.

“Employees of the Ministry of Finance Investigative Service detained Ilia Ghudushauri, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs, on suspicion of abuse of official powers. Ghudushauri also chaired the ministry’s procurement tender commission.

The investigation determined that on September 27, 2022, the Ministry announced a tender to purchase emergency medical transport vehicles. The ultimate beneficiary of the tender was the Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center. Three companies participated in the tender, and one company offered the lowest price of 8,525,876 GEL and was declared the winner.

This tender was suspended on Ghudushauri’s unlawful instruction. He abused his official powers to give preference to another company. On May 10, 2023, under his direction, a new tender was announced with conditions tailored for a single pre-selected applicant, preventing other companies from participating. The ministry unjustifiably paid this pre-selected company 2,138,196 GEL, significantly violating the state’s lawful interests.

The investigation is ongoing under Article 332, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. To uncover participants in corruption, hold them accountable, and prevent further corruption, the Ministry of Finance Investigative Service continues intensive operational and investigative actions,” Tavberidze said.