Secretary of the National Security Council steps down

Georgias National Security Councils Secretary Giga Bokeria stepped down from his post on November 15. He has held the position over the past three years, citing continuing the political life as a citizen of Georgian and an active member of the United National Movement (UNM), the oppositional party in Georgia.

Bokeria is known as a supporter of Mikheil Saakashvili and the previous government. He said he would leave his post if the Georgian Dream candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili won the presidential election, to which Margvelashvili responded that he also plans to replace Bokeria in case of his victory.

Bokeria notified the president about his resignation on Friday.

On November 1, president elect Giorgi Margvelashvili offered the National Security Councils post to Irina Imerlishvili, the Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream ruling party. Imerlishvili confirmed that she will replace Giga Bokeria at this position.

Bokeria has been a Member of Parliament in 2004-2008. In April 2008, he was moved to the post of deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia and in November 2010 to Secretary of the National Security Council.