In the wake of recent government reshuffling, economist Soso Berikashvili argues that the main development is not the appointment of Mariam Kvrivishvili as Georgia’s new Minister of Economy, but rather the dismissal of Levan Davitashvili, a move he sees as politically significant.
Speaking on BMGTV, Berikashvili criticized the lack of transparency and meritocracy in government appointments, saying:
“It is not easy to understand why Mariam Kvrivishvili was appointed as minister, because we do not live in a democratic country. Ministers here are not appointed based on merit or competence. They are chosen because someone decided so, this is ordinary autocracy.”
Berikashvili described Davitashvili as an important figure in the Georgian Dream cabinet, noting his technocratic style and generally positive reputation across political circles.
“Personally, I had meetings with him. He was not very engaged politically; he simply did the job and was more adequate than others,” he said.
The economist speculated that Davitashvili may have been seen as the Georgian Dream’s last hope for improving relations with the United States, but a recent visit to the U.S. failed to yield results, possibly contributing to his removal.
“Was he fired or did he leave? It's unclear. But unlike other ministers, he hasn’t been sanctioned by the West… Maybe the visit’s failure played a role.”
Berikashvili also referenced the arrest of Deputy Minister Romeo Mikautadze, calling the incident “strange” and hinting at possible internal instability or undisclosed motives behind the reshuffle.
When asked why Mariam Kvrivishvili was appointed, Berikashvili responded with a rhetorical question:
“Who would want to be the Minister of Economy of the Georgian Dream now? I don’t think many would.”
He went on to question Kvrivishvili’s autonomy in the role, suggesting she may serve more as a figurehead than a decision-maker:
“Let’s look at her biography and her property holdings… We’ve become used to parliamentarians and ministers being millionaires. In reality, this is a criminal syndicate. These are people who earned their wealth either by aligning with the government or directly through corruption. The government needs people who are dependent and will not speak out.”
According to Berikashvili, Kvrivishvili may make a few minor personnel changes, but will likely play a limited role in shaping economic policy:
“She might replace one or two deputies or department heads, have an office, a car, but that’s about it.”
The remarks have sparked renewed debate over governance, accountability, and transparency in Georgia, particularly in the lead-up to a tense political season.
