Ex-PM Ivanishvili 'disappointed' in President Margvelashvili

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has criticized the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili, who he named as a presidential candidate, for "changing his character".

Ivanishvili said he was "surprised" to learn of these changes and "disappointed” in Margvelashvili.

"It appears he has a principally different character than he used to have before. He was among those who were completely against the decision to move to the Presidential Palace of the ex-president in Avlabari but he changed his mind and moved there,” Ivanishvili said in an interview on Imedi TV.

He stated there was nothing wrong with Margvelashvili's decision but he was surprised how easily the President changed his mind.

"Frankly saying I was anticipating a better result. During the first two months I had too many polemics with the newly elected president. There have been many misunderstandings between us," Ivanishvili said.

Besides this, Ivanishvili confirmed Margvelasvhili was about to impose a veto on a draft bill about questioning witnesses directly in court. By doing this, Margvelashvili would create a great misunderstanding in the majority, Ivanishvili believed.

"He responded he did not care,” Ivanishvili added and said Margvelashvili had not read the Bill but was ready to sign it. He said he did not maintain any informal relations with Margvelashvili any more.

Another issue on which Ivanishvili criticized Margvelashvili was in regards to the President's decision to appoint Vano Matchavariani as his foreign policy adviser.

Matchavariani is brother of the former ruling United National Movement (UNM) party lawmaker Mikheil Matchavariani.

"He is Margvelashvili's favorite, while his brother Mikheil Matchavariani was the ex-President's favorite," Ivanishvili said, adding this was not a tragedy, but it was still unpleasant.

Ivanishvili said he disliked Matchavariani for his "improper” actions in the past.

He claimed Matchavariani had joined his team just to "anger” then ruling UNM party and to obtain from them a well-paid job in exchange for not being with the Georgian Dream.

Speaking in an interview on Imedi TV, Ivanishvili said the current Government was "a very responsible and constructive Government" while the opposition was "completely irresponsible" and had damaged the common image of the situation.

"United National Movement is just as much a forced opposition as the forced government it was while in power,” Ivanishvili said.

As for Ministers in Garibashvili’s Government, he said Culture Minister Guram Odisharia was "definitely not among the best Ministers". Ivanishvili believed Odisharia needed improvement, as he lacked experience and principals.

Ivanishvili praised Prime Minister Garibashvili a lot and said Garibashvili reminded him of his own younger years.

"He is a much better PM than I was. Thirty one-year-old Irakli is working too hard. I remember when I was the same age I was starting my business and I worked 24 hours a day. He works even more, he copes with everything so well,” Ivanishvili said.

When asked about the crisis in Crimea and possible solutions for Ukraine, Ivanishvili said Russia would not step back and would use all possible measures to keep the status-quo and Georgia had to stay alongside its Ukrainian friend.

"We have to do everything in order to maintain Ukraine’s territorial integrity and I would like this to happen peacefully,” he said, as he noted his appreciation to the Georgian Government’s support to Ukraine.