New Governor of Shida Kartli Appointed

Vladimir Gegelashvili, a lawmaker from the ruling party, has been appointed as governor of the Shida Kartli region.

Prior to his appointment, Gegelashvili, 29, led the Gori office of the Youth Department of Georgia.

?Lado Gegelashvili was born in Gori, he is an active member of the National Movement? The president has sent him to do a job here [in Gori],? Eka Sharashidze, the head of the president?s administration, said while presenting the new governor to the Gori administration.

The governor?s position became vacant on September 12 with the dismissal of the former governor, Mikheil Kareli, by President Saakashvili. The president made the decision following an incident on September 12, in which local people, including the governor, tried to storm the local city council building. The building had been sealed by police searching for further evidence of corruption, following the earlier arrest of several officials from the Gori local administration on corruption charges.
 
After the incident, Kareli, who has close links to the ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, lashed out at the Georgian authorities, saying that he would reconsider his position and future.

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