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Georgian agriculture minister states prime minister suspends him at post

The Georgian parliament approved Kirvalidze at the post of the agriculture minister on October 25, 2012

TBILISI, May 2 (Itar-Tass) - Georgian Agriculture Minister David Kirvalidze asked republican Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili to suspend his powers at the post of the minister, Kirvalidze told reporters here on Thursday. He noted that the prime minister satisfied his request.

Kirvalidze noted that he has taken this decision over the detention of several officials of the Agriculture Ministry on embezzlement accusation. “I assume political responsibility and decided to be suspended at the post until the end of the investigation and until the guilt or innocence of the detainees is found,” the minister stated.

On Wednesday, the Georgian Interior Ministry stated that several officials of the Agriculture Ministry and the state-run company Mekhanizator were detained on the accusation of embezzlement of state funds, negligence and pressure on experts.

The Georgian parliament approved Kirvalidze at the post of the agriculture minister on October 25, 2012.