Ex-Chief of Staff Becomes Military Attach? to Russia

Chief of Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Major General Givi Iukuridze will become Georgia?s military attach? to Russia, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters on August 25.

Early on August 25 Zhvania confirmed that Iukuridze was dismissed. In separate comments made later on the same day Zhvania said that President Saakashvili was ?dissatisfied with the work of Givi Iukuridze.?

?We expect the General Staff of the Armed Forces to be more active in process of building armed forces,? Zurab Zhvania, who together with other cabinet members visits Adjara Autonomous Republic, said.

He did not specified who will replace Iukuridze; however said that the new Chief of Staff will be ?U.S.-educated person.?

Iukuridze was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces in February 2004. Decision to dismiss Iukuridze comes as a surprise, as in April President Saakashvili said, ?while I am the President? Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Givi Iukuridze will remain on his position.”

Georgian media reports that the decision to dismiss the Chief of Staff comes after analysis of the reasons for the military casualties in South Ossetia in August.

According to the Georgian Healthcare Ministry 19 Georgian soldiers were killed and 45 other injured in clashes with the South Ossetian militias.