Ex-head of top Georgian NGO becomes President’s Adviser

Former head of one of Georgia's leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has been appointed as the President’s Adviser in the field of human rights and justice.

President Giorgi Margvelashvili said he was delighted with the appointment of Kakha Kozhoridze and said the President's Administration would be strengthened with such a "highly skilled professional. Kozhoridze was the former leader of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA). 

"His work as head of the GYLA is very impressive as well as in the civil sector. I welcome his endeavours,” Margvelashvili said.

Kozhoridze himself noted it was a great honour and responsibility to work in the President’s Administration.

"While being the head of GYLA I had the opportunity to meet with the President and his team several times and discuss a variety of issues. I want to underline that on the majority of issues, including the ones in regards to the judiciary and human rights, we had common visions and values. It gives me hope that our future cooperation will be fruitful and productive,” he noted.

Kozhoridze led GYLA from 2012 until 2014.

Meanwhile another change announced today was the appointment of current President’s Economic Adviser Giorgi Abashishvili as deputy head of the President Administration David Pataria.

"It is a great honour and a new challenge for me to serve in this highly important institution – the President’s Administration of Georgia. I will be the deputy head of the President’s Administration," Abashishvili said. 

"Additional administrative functions have been added to my responsibility but at the same time I will continue working as the President’s Adviser and research-analytical activities which provides the President with more information about economic issues,” Abashishvili noted.

President Margvelashvili emphasized Abashishvili’s "very fruitful" work in the Administration and wished him luck in his new role.