Georgian PM announces ministerial appointments in new government

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said that he appointed new ministers after the parliament expressed confidence in the renewed composition of the government.

“I inform you that yesterday I appointed 12 ministers to their posts than completed the formation of the new government based on the results of the 26 October parliamentary elections,” Kobakhidze said at a briefing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media. 

Meanwhile, Kobakhidze said the authorities are not considering holding repeated parliamentary elections.

“No, of course. What are we talking about,” Kobakhidze said when asked by a journalist whether the authorities were going to hold repeat elections in the country.

Recently, Georgia's pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili said she will stay in post until new parliamentary elections are held, as protests continue over the government's decision to put EU accession negotiations on hold.

Zourabichvili, who has sided with the opposition, described the current parliament as "illegitimate" after allegations of fraud in last month's elections. The president said she would retain her role as president, despite the country's newly elected parliament saying it would choose her replacement on December 14.

Mass protests in the capital are continuing to erupt for a third consecutive night on Saturday in the capital Tbilisi. Riot police have been deployed around the country's parliament, the focal point of three nights of protests. Officers again used tear gas and water cannon against protesters into the early hours of Sunday, as they tried to push people away from the parliament building. Demonstrations were also taking place in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, and other Georgian regions.

By Khagan Isayev