PM Announces Cabinet Reshuffle

Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania announced during a news briefing on June 5 that a reshuffle within the government will take place.  The Prime Minister stated that the changes will occur mainly within the security and defense agencies.

Giorgi Baramidze, 36, who was Interior Minister, will take over the Defense Minister?s position, replacing Gela Bezhuashvili, 37. The latter will become Secretary of the National Security Council.

Vano Merabishvili, 36, ex-Secretary of the National Security Council, became Security Minister and replaced Zurab Adeishvili, 32, who, in turn, will become the General Prosecutor.

Former General Prosecutor Irakli Okruashvili, 31, will lead the Interior Ministry.

?This reshuffle in the security agencies ables us to carry out more coordinated and purposeful policy,? Zurab Zhvania said.

?Other changes in the cabinet are also anticipated; we will submit new candidacies to the Parliament for approval on Monday [on June 7],? Zurab Zhvania told reporters.