Tbilisi Mayor Sacks District Head for ‘Precious’ Gift
Mayor of Tbilisi Zurab Tchiaberashvili convened a press conference on October 27, which was attended by the heads of Tbilisi’s five districts. Tchiaberashvili announced at the press conference that Head of Isani-Samgori district Zurab Adamia gave him an expensive watch as a gift and he is dismissing him for this.
The press conference was broadcasted live by leading Georgian televisions.
“I am asking you how can a Head of a district, with monthly salary of 150 Lari [USD 82], present me with this watch, which costs USD 1,500? I am asking this to the person who has presented this gift – the Head of Isani-Samgori district,” Zurab Tchiaberashvili said, demonstrating the watch publicly at the press conference.
“Adamia will file resignation immediately. And I warn all the Heads of the districts that drastic changes will be carried out in the administrations of the Tbilisi districts,” the Tbilisi Mayor added.
Zurab Adamia later told reporters that “[the watch] of course, did not cost USD 1,500. No other comments.”
Later on the same day President Saakashvili also commented regarding the case. President Saakashvili, who was speaking at a cabinet session, hailed the Tbilisi Mayor for, as the President put it, his fight against corruption.
Saakashvili’s comments were also broadcasted live by the TV channels.
“Of course my watch is not as expansive [as that one presented as a gift], but anyway I want you to receive my watch as my gift for your good job,” President Saakashvili said, taking off his watch and handing over it to Zurab Tchiaberashvili, who was also attending the cabinet session.
