Adjara Government Chair Resigns

The Chairman of Georgia's Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Zurab Pataridze, has quit his post.

As he said at today's briefing, this decision was made within the whole governmental team.

"I made the decision to leave the post of the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara…I would like to emphasize that I am and I will be a member of the Georgian Dream team and together with my team will do everything to benefit our region and our country,” he stated.

Pataridze thanked the ruling Georgian Dream party for giving him a chance to serve Adjara and the country.

Zurab Pataridze had been the Chair of the Adjara Government since July 2016.

Opposition parties claim Pataridze’s resignation was demanded by the “informal” ruler of the country, GD Chair and former Prime Minister, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

On June 13, 2018, former Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, resigned due to a difference of opinions with Ivanishvili.

The opposition says Pataridze was Kvirikashvili’s team member and after Ivanishvili dismissed the ex-PM, he decided to replace Adjara Government Head too.

By Thea Morrison