20 districts administrations across Belarus set to buy new official vehicles

District administrations across Belarus have announced public tenders to procure official vehicles - mostly Belarus-made Chinese make Geely. The bids were published by Kamianiec, Ivanava, Krupki, Brahin, Senna, Dubroven, Svislac district executive committees). Why do district bosses need new vehicles? What happened to their old cars? Do they have to walk to their offices now?

Ivanava district administration is purchasing a Geely Emgrand X7, because their old vehicle is falling apart ahead of the harvesting campaign. "Now one needs to drive to the fields, fetch agronomists, specialists, vet technicians and the seniors," Zhanna Hrynа, the staffer responsible for procurement tells Euroradio. We used to have a [Chinese-made 4X4] Hover H3 that was passed to our farm. But it broke down and in terms of money it is as much money to fix it as to buy a new vehicle."

Chief accountant at Ivanava district administration Tacciana Vasilyeuna about the purchase of new vehicles: "This is confidential information but we all have the required paperwork. We do not waste public money, we do not have it." Meanwhile, information on the state procurement program's website says that Ivanava district administration purchased two Geely vehicles worth a total of BYN 70 000 in 2017 alone. It also announced tenders to procure official vehicles in 2013 and 2014. Are they wasting public funds or not?

Yelsk district administration seeks to purchase a car worth BYN 34 000 for the agriculture department. Chief of staff Valiantsina Auramenka explains the need behind the procurement: "The old one is not driving. Its lifespan ended long ago. Everything we buy is needed for the district executive committee and the district council of deputies. We have a budget for that. We are doing everything strictly in accordance with the president's decree." Yelsk district administration announced public tenders for the procurement of official vehicles in 2013 and 2014. It also notoriously attempted to purchase a VW Toureg for $73 000 in 2012.

Asmiany district committee seeks to buy the cheapest vehicle. They are yet to choose the make but already know the price - BYN 19 000.

"We are buying due to the wear of the old vehicle," staffer Maryna Mikhnevich reports. We used to have a Mercedez Benz but it exceeded its lifespan by eight years and was written off."

Cacersk district administration seeks to purchase two vehicles worth a total of BYN 56 000. "The reason is that our vehicles have exhausted the amortization limits by 100%," chief specialist from the accounting unit Alena Ginsburg explains.  The vehicles we have replaced were manufactured in 2001. It was a Mercedez Benz - expensive to maintain. It was not feasible to repair it. It made more sense to buy new ones. Hence, with permission from the Regional Administration, we have procured two vehicles. We have passed the old Mercedez to a public-sector organization."

In 2014, Cacerk district adminisration indeed announced a public tender to repair its Mercedez. The repairs cost almost $7000! It seems they have indeed decided to get rid of it.

All tenders amount to a total of almost BYN 800 000 or over $400 000 for new official vehicles.