Half of Governors will Change ? State Minister

Half of the current provincial governors will change in a major reshuffle, Davit Tkeshelashvili, the State Minister for Regional Issues, said on February 2.

He said that Shida Kartli governor, Vladimer Gegelashvili, would be replaced by Lado Vardzelashvili, who currently is deputy minister for culture and sport. He, however, did not name other planned changes. ?Other changes will become known in a day or two,? Tkeshelashvili told Rustavi 2 TV.

Tkeshelashvili, who holds the newly created post in the cabinet, is in charge of overseeing provincial governors, who are directly appointed by the president. There are nine governors in the following regions: Guria; Samegrelo-Zemo (Upper) Svaneti; Racha-Lechkhumi; Samtskhe-Javakheti; Imereti; Kvemo Kartli; Shida Kartli; Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kakheti. Adjara Autonomous Republic has a head of the government (Levan Varshalomidze), who is elected by the local legislative body. Tbilisi has mayor (Gigi Ugulava), who is elected by the local City Council.

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