Vasadze Tariel

Tariel Schachrowitsch Wasadse

Date of Birth: 15.10.1947

Tariel Schachrowsch Wasadse is a Ukrainian businessman of Georgian origin, President of OAO 'Ukrainian Automobile Corporation', Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (IV, V, VI and VII convocations).

Place of Birth. Education. He was born in Supsa, Lanchkhuti District, Georgian SSR. In 1971, he graduated from the Kyiv Institute of Motor Transport and Roads (specializing in mechanical engineering).

Career. Wasadze's path began in 1965 as a car mechanic in the collective farm Hidmagala in his native village. After graduation, he worked as an engineer, leading master, workshop manager, director of the maintenance station, and deputy general director of the Kiyvavto maintenance association.

1982-1991 - Deputy Head, Head of the Ukrainian Republic Department for Automobile Maintenance. 1991-1992 - Head of the Republican Leasing Association Autoservice. Since 1992, he has been the President of OAO 'Ukrainian Automobile Corporation' (UkrAVTO), established on the basis of the Soviet automobile service system.

Business and Wealth. The UkrAVTO Corporation, led by Wasadze, is one of the largest automobile manufacturers and importers in Ukraine. It includes dozens of companies and enterprises (car factories and supplier plants, car showrooms and maintenance station networks, gas stations, insurance companies). Among the largest assets are the car factory in Zaporizhia and the Polish automobile factory FSO. Interestingly, about two hundred structural units of UkrAVTO operate in Poland (approximately half the number in Ukraine). Wasadze is also connected to the capital trade network Quadrat and the fast-food restaurant network Shvydko.

In March 2007, the Ukrainian magazine 'Focus' estimated the fortune of the co-founder of UkrAVTO at 720 million USD and placed him 21st on the list of the richest Ukrainians. A month earlier, the Georgian newspaper 'Georgian Times' went even further in its assessments. In its ranking of the richest Georgians in the world, the publication placed Wasadze fourth, counting assets of 5 billion USD, which is approximately two years of Georgia's budgets.

A year later, 'Focus' estimated the politician's fortune at 780 million USD. And the magazine 'Korrespondent', which studied his assets, concluded that the automobile magnate's wealth amounts to 2.1 billion USD, placing him 14th among the 50 richest Ukrainians.

In 2012, Tariel Wasadze was ranked 53rd in the 'Golden Hundred' list of 'Korrespondent' with a value of 180 million USD.

In 2013, 'Focus' estimated Tariel Wasadze's fortune at 340.5 million USD (51st place in the list of '200 richest people in Ukraine').

In 2014, 'Forbes' estimated Wasadze's wealth at 104 million USD.

Views and Evaluations. He has changed political sympathies multiple times. During the first parliamentary term, he was a member of six factions and groups (including the 'pro-Kuchma' faction 'Unified Ukraine', faction of the Labor Ukraine party, party of industrialists and entrepreneurs, 'Will of the People'). However, he finally remained with the BJuT in December 2005. It should be noted that shortly before, after he was appointed Prime Minister in 2005, Yulia Tymoshenko had faced significant criticism regarding the granting of special privileges to Autoservice. The car factory owner publicly thwarted the Prime Minister's initiative to abolish free zones and tax reductions. However, this contradiction soon ceased to strain their political relationship. Wasadze became a member of Tymoshenko's party 'Fatherland', of the Political Council of the block, and is said to be one of the main financiers. In 2006 and 2007, he headed the BJuT electoral campaign in the Zaporizhia region.

After the formation of the democratic coalition between BJuT and the 'Our Ukraine - National Self-Defense' block, Wasadze's candidacy for the post of Minister of Transport and Communications was proposed at Tymoshenko's quota. It should be noted, however, that a person who is hardly publicly known to this day took this public office. On the day of the formation of the new government, unexpectedly, Joseph Winsky, another member of the budget committee, was proposed as the head of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which contradicted the expectations of some observers. The honorary president of UkrAVTO explained the absence of his family on the list of members of the new government by self-isolation: he did not want to mix business and politics.

By the way, there was a small curiosity in the story of Wasadze's nomination for the position of the head of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. From the income declaration of the candidate, distributed in Parliament, it turned out that one of the richest Ukrainians and leading domestic car manufacturers and importers is a proud owner of the Soviet car model ZAZ-965. The people humorously nicknamed this model 'Zaporozhets' as 'a shrunk barrel'.

Regalia. Honored Transport Worker of Ukraine. Awarded with the Order of Merit III class and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise V class.

Family. Wasadze is married. He has two children.

Hobbies. He is involved in...