(Tbilisi, August 15, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Parliament approved late on August 14 former Deputy State Minister Mamuka Nikolaishvili to the post of Energy Minister.
Opposition Parliamentary faction voted against the candidature. Opposition claims Nikolaishvili is a close friend of Paata Shevardnadze, son of President Shevardnadze and his appointment will increase the Shevardnadze family’s influence over the energy sector of the country.
Opposition also criticizes Nikolaishvili for supporting entry of the Russian state-owned power giant Unified Energy Systems into Georgia.
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