Health Minister Resigns
On March 1, Georgian Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs Zurab Azarashvili resigned from his post, the government administration reported.
“Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze talked with the Minister of Health, after which Zurab Azarashvili left his post,” – says the official press release of the government administration.
In his comments to journalists, PM Kobakhidze noted that the resignation of Health Minister was prompted by his “problems in the communication management,” which, Kobakhidze added, were particularly evident during the protests at the Central Republican Hospital against the government’s decision to demolish it.
He added that when it comes to the sectoral ministry, “it’s necessary to cooperate with sectoral representatives and experts”, noting that Minister Azarashvili had exactly this problem.
It is not yet known who will replace him in the post. According to PM Kobakhidze, members of the team, including the Honorary Chairman of “Georgian Dream” Bidzina Ivanishvili, will be involved in the consultations.
Zurab Azarashvili has held the post of Minister of Health since December 27, 2021.
Azarashvili’s resignation was the first personnel change under PM Kobakhidze’s Government.
On February 24, after meeting with the medical staff of Central Republican Hospital, Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced that the demolition plans had been canceled in the face of weeks of protests against the Ministry of Health.
NOTE: This news was updated at 12:42 p.m. to include Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s comments to journalists.
Also Read:
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
