PM accepts resignation of Defence and State Reconciliation Ministers

Two cabinet ministers within the current Georgian Government are stepping down from their posts to participate in the October 8 Parliamentary Elections race.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili accepted the resignations of the country’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli and Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakaraeishvili.

The Government of Georgia said new ministerial candidates to fill these two positions will be announced in the near future.

The outgoing ministers will both participate in the upcoming elections representing the David Usupashvili-Republican Party, which will challenge separate from the Georgian Dream (GD) coalition in the October elections.

Two weeks ago when speaking to media Usupashvili announced Khidasheli and Zakaraeishvili would both resign from their ministerial positions but a third member of the Republican Party who was also a cabinet member had decided to quit the party and remain with the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) coalition.

This person was Georgia's Minister of Environment Gigla Agulashvili. His decision to leave the Republican Party allowed him to retain his ministerial post.

Khidasheli and Zakareishvili both addressed Prime Minister about their resignation and yesterday the PM accepted their request.