EU-Atlantic Integration State Minister steps down
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State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili announced his resignation during a live interview with Georgian Maestro TV last night after receiving news of the dismissal of his political ally Defence Minister Irakli Alasania by the Prime Minister.
Petriashvili said the political strike on one of the most successful Governmental bodies - the Ministry of Defence - was "obvious".
"Alasania is the most interested in the transparent and final investigation of the Ministry of Defence case. I trust NATO top officials and experts assess the activity and reforms of the Georgian Defence Ministry as successful and transparent in their reports,” he said.
"I am not a law expert but Alasania answered all questions from my point of view. I have no reason not to believe in the innocence of his colleagues [who were charged by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office].”
Minister Petriashvili said he will officially file his resignation tomorrow.
"I do not see myself in cabinet where the Head of the Government has no more trust in my ally and my party leader [Alasania],” he added.
When asked whether the Free Democrats party will leave the Georgian Dream coalition, Petriashvili answered that "we will discuss the coalition tomorrow”.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili invited all fraction members of the Free Democrats, including Alasania, to attend a broader meeting of the coalition Georgian Dream political council today, November 5.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made a special statement at a briefing after his meeting with the coalition majority at the Georgian Dream coalition office this evening, where he announced he had dismissed the country’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania.
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Free Democrats - the party led by ex-Defence Minister Irakli Alasania – have left the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition.
This decision was announced by Alasania when he and his team left the broader meeting of the political council of the GD coalition only ten minutes after it started.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is calling statements of three former high officials who left their duties this week – one was dismissed and two resigned) - as "totally irresponsible” and their actions of quitting their duties could be seen as "sabotage” against country.
The Georgian leader believed the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition would have the majority in Parliament despite Alasania and members of the Free Democrats quitting the coalition and the Government will continue to work more effectivly.
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