Commentator Applies for GPB Top Job

Political commentator and journalist Ia Antadze has applied for the vacant position of director-general of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

So far, her only contender for the post is Bachuki Bakhtadze, although journalist and commentator Zviad Koridze is also reported to be interested. The deadline for the submission of applications is March 15.

Antadze, who provides weekly political commentary to the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Georgian service, said earlier she would agree to take the position only if there were broad consensus on her candidacy, particularly at a political level.

The director-general must be elected by the nine-member board of the GPB. The new board itself was approved by Parliament on February 29, which was followed by the resignation of director-general Tamar Kintsurashvili. A new director general is expected to be elected no later than April 4.