Defence Minister appoints three new Deputy Ministers

Georgia's Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli appointed three new Deputy Ministers today.

David Ebralidze, Besik Loladze and Anna Dolidze were named as the new Deputies and have already started working on their positions.

Khidasheli said Ebralidze, who was assigned to the position of First Deputy Minister, will be in charge of procurement and finance issues.

"Davit Ebralidze worked as the Deputy Finance Minister [from 2012 to 2013]. He was also the Energy Ombudsman and has experience of working in the State Audit Office. Based on his professional experience he will take over the direction of finances, logistics and procurement,” Khidasheli said.

As for Loladze, Georgia's Defence Minister noted he would be the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry.

"Loladze was a member of Georgia’s Constitutional Court, a Deputy Minister of Justice and has solid experience of working in the public service,” she said.

The third Deputy Minister, Dolidze, will work in the direction of human rights in the Ministry.

"Anna’s main merit is not her gender. She is a highly qualified lawyer and a person with principles,” Khidasheli said.

"The main criterion for my choice is high professionalism. Her main direction will be human rights: everything connected with the wounded soldiers, our soldiers who serve abroad, the families of the fallen heroes,” Khidasheli said.

Dolidze worked as the elected president of one of Georgia’s top non-governmental organisations Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) in 2004-2006. She is a Doctor of law, a Professor at the University of Western Ontario in the United States and author of many scientific publications in the field of law.

Khidasheli also noted two more Deputy Ministers for the remaining vacant positions will be appointed in the near future.