Leader of the Republican Party, MP Davit Berdzenishvili announced today that he will run for the position of the Mayor of the Adjarian capital Batumi. Berdzenishvili is known as a close ally of President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Republican Party is a founding member of Saakashvili’s National Movement.
Berdzenishvili, a native Adjarian, arrived to Batumi on May 14, and said he will make an official bid for the position after the post becomes elective.
President Saakashvili appointed Edward Surmanidze, also native Adjarian and Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania?s close associate, as an interim Batumi Mayor on May 10.