Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi after police arrested opposition leader Nika Melia. Melia has been accused of inciting violence at street protests in June 2019.
Georgia gets new PM , Parliament approves new PM Irakli Garibashvili.
The Parliament of Georgia has expressed a vote of confidence to Irakli Garibashvili as Prime Minister of Georgia and the new composition of the Government.
The supreme legislative body of the country has unanimously supported the Government of Georgia led by Irakli Garibashvili and cast 89 votes for the Governmental Program branded as For Building a European State.
Two new portfolio ministers will be joining the new government. Juansher Burchuladze will be the Minister of Defense and Irakli Karseladze will serve as a Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
Seven ministers remain unchanged: David Zalkaliani as a Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gocha Lordkipanidze as a Minister of Justice, Vakhtang Gomelauri as a Minister of Internal Affairs, Natia Turnava as a Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ivane Matchavariani as a Minister of Finance; Mikheil Chkhenkeli as a Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports; Levan Davitashvili as a Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture.
Georgian police on Tuesday arrested a top opposition leader and used tear gas in a violent raid on his party headquarters, further deepening a political crisis sparked by last year’s disputed parliamentary elections.
Garibashvili is a loyal lieutenant of the powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded Georgian Dream and is widely seen as the man in charge in Georgia, despite having no official political role.
Finland FM @Haavisto: I am deeply worried about the escalation of tensions in #Georgia. Political differences cannot be solved with force. I call for restraint by all parties, return to political dialogue and guarantee the respect for rule of law and democratic development.
