Cabinet members approved a proposal on November 3 to privatize the Tbilisi Aircraft Factory – TbilAviaMsheni (TAM) and hand it over to the factory’s current managing company without announcing an open competition.

“The sate budget is expected to receive a total of USD 67 million,” Natia Turnava, Deputy Economy Minister, told reporters on November 3.

The government’s decision to privatize the aircraft factory directly to one particular company without offering a public auction triggered criticism by the opposition. Non-partisan opposition MP Levan Gachechiladze accused the authorities of “a corruption link” between the government members and the director-general of TbilAviaMsheni managing company Pantiko Tordia.

TbilAviaMsheni is producing four modifications of the Su 25 battle support aircraft. The most modern modification is Su 25 “Scorpio,” designed in cooperation with Israeli Elbit Systems company.