Zhvania Denies Tbilisi Seeks for Abashidze’s Ouster

State Minister Zurab Zhvania today dismissed recent speculations of the Georgian media, regarding his intentions to deploy Edward Surmanidze leader of the newly created movement Democrat Adjara, as Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s heir.
 
“Such statements are rather disgraceful, while Adjara already has a leader. I would like to assure you that there are more important issues to be solved there, than the post of the Adjarian leader,” Zurab Zhvania told reporters on January 28.
 
He also said that the central authorities intend to cooperate closely with head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze.
 
Edward Surmanidze leads the new public movement Democratic Adjara, which was set up to carry out democratic reforms in Adjara.

The members of Democratic Adjara demand holding of snap elections of the Adjarian legislative body – the Supreme Council, which is now under the control of Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze.