TBILISI. March 11 (Interfax) - Georgian prosecutors have uncovered serious financial irregularities in the Defense Ministry's operations, Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili told journalists on Saturday.
"Our agency and a relevant Interior Ministry department are inspecting the Defense Ministry's financial-economic performance in 2005-2012. Preliminary findings indicate a deficit of several millions of lari," Kbilashvili said.
The inspectors are clarifying the exact size of the deficit, after which those responsible should be identified, he said.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry's General Inspectorate is also conducting an inspection in the ministry. Vako Avaliani, an advisor to the defense minister, had told journalists several days ago that the inspection uncovered the purchase of 3,000 Ukrainian-made armored vests worth over $1.5 million under the previous ministry administration, which proved to be unserviceable. The inspection findings have been passed to the prosecution authorities, he said.