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New Georgian government wants to replace Georgian ambassadors abroad

Georgian PM said that Saakashvili and his team had demanded the release of imprisoned members of their party in exchange for appointing new ambassadors

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

TBILISI, December 9 (Itar-Tass) — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said on Saturday that President Mikhail Saakashvili and his team had demanded the release of several imprisoned members of their party in exchange for appointing new ambassadors to foreign countries.

Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Pandzhikidze asked President Saakashvili to replace some diplomats a month ago. “They asked to free several imprisoned members of their party from jail in exchange for approving new ambassadors,” Ivanishvili said.

“Georgia doesn’t have and won’t have selective justice. Law enforcers will investigate the activities of all people suspected of committing crimes. The replacement of ambassadors has got nothing to do with investigation against crime suspects,” the Georgian prime minister emphasized.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who is paying a visit to Poland, has so far refrained from any comments.

Under Georgian laws, the president recalls and appoints new ambassadors on agreement with the foreign minister. The overwhelming majority of Georgian ambassadors in foreign countries continue doing their jobs after the Georgian Dream coalition won the parliamentary elections on October 1. The local media reports that the new Georgian government wants to replace most Georgian ambassadors working in foreign countries.

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