New Mayor of Poti Appointed

President Saakashvili has appointed Vano Saginadze as the new Mayor of Poti, a town and port in western Georgia, on the Black Sea coast.

Ex-Mayor of Poti Vakhtang Alania was arrested last December for alleged misuse of power and state funds.

Before this new appointment Vano Saginadze chaired the Commission for Finance and Budget on the Poti City Council. 

President Saakashvili reiterated on February 15 that city Mayors should be elected starting in 2006. ?Directly, or indirectly, but Mayors should be elected,? he said.

Earlier, Saakashvili’s ruling National Movement party leaders suggested indirect elections by members of elected City Councils for the two major cities that still appoint mayors – Tbilisi and Poti.