Georgia's interior minister nominated for PM postSeptember 3, 2019 - 11:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The ruling Georgian Dream party has nominated Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia for the post of prime minister, RIA news agency cited the party’s chairman as saying on Tuesday, September 3, Reuters reports. Outgoing prime minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announced his resignation on Monday after little more than a year in the job. The former finance minister, who became premier in June last year, said it had been “a great honor” to lead the Caucasus nation’s government, in a lengthy Facebook post listing the achievements of his administration. Bakhtadze, 37, said he’d hold a news conference at 3 p.m. in the capital, Tbilisi. The ruling Georgian Dream party’s leader in parliament, Georgi Volsky, said a new candidate for prime minister would be announced on Tuesday. Georgia faces parliamentary elections in October next year. The government has faced criticism in recent weeks as the currency has reached record lows against the dollar, and amid a backlash over a violent crackdown on protesters angered by the visit of a Russian lawmaker to Georgia’s parliament. Earlier this month, local media reported that Gakharia -- who had been blamed over the handling of the protests in June -- may replace Bakhtadze as head of government. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |