Georgia’s Interior Minister resigns
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Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Tchikaidze is leaving his post.
Tchikaidze announced his resignation in a statement published on the Ministry’s official website today.
He was appointed the role of Minister of Internal Affairs on November 25, 2013. He replaced the Georgian Dream coalition's first Internal Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
In the statement, Tchikaidze said false accusations towards him following the recent murder of Iuri Vazagashvili were the reason for his decision to leave the Governmental post.
"There are some false accusations that I am covering the persons involved in this murder. Nevertheless I feel the moral responsibility to make the decision to resign,” read Tchikaidze’s statement on www.police.ge.
He emphasized his hope for the successful and timely investigation of the unexplained murder although he presumed the investigation would take some time to complete. He said he would not have made the decision to resign if the investigation into Vazagashvili's murder would conclude in the first few days after the crime.
"If it was a case of solving Iuri Vazagashvili’s murder immediately, I wouldn’t make such decision. On the day of the tragic event I was abroad. As the investigation is now in progress, I consider I should be separated from the ongoing process so that [the public] don't have any questions of the Government,” Tchikaidze underlined in his statement.
Meanwhile Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke to Georgia's Imedi TV from the World Economic Forum in Davos about Tchikaidze’s decision to resign. The PM said he would accept Tchikaidze’s offer to resign and said Tchikaidze proved he was a man of integrity.
"We brought new standards to Georgian politics. The truth will be revealed soon. The investigation is ongoing and those found guilty in the murder case will be duly punished," Garibashvili said.
He added the investigation into the murder of Vazagashvili’s son Zurab Vazagashvili was in its final stage.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has released its first official statement regarding the bizarre murder of Iuri Vazagashvili, who was killed by an explosive on January 20, 2015, while he visited his son's grave in Karapila village in the Kaspi district (Shida Kartli region).
The father of a man who was shot and killed by police in controversial circumstances in central Tbilisi in 2006, has been found dead on his son’s grave today.
Georgia's Prime Minister and other members of the Government attended the funeral of Iuri Vazagashvili - the man who was killed by an explosion last week while he visited his son's grave.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has introduced Deputy Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri as the country’s new Minister of Internal Affairs.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against four ex-Interior Ministry officials who allegedly exceeded official powers and exerted undue pressure on a person who was forced to commit premeditated murder.
A police officer is believed to be responsible for the murder of Iuri Vazagahsvili - the man who was killed by an explosion last month while he visited his son's grave.