Self-government expert Irakli Melashvili says the appointment of former security officials to lead Georgia’s Regional Development Ministry shows the government’s priorities and approach to regional policy. He noted that both times the position was proposed, former State Security Service chiefs Grigol Liluashvili and Mamuka Mdinaradze were presented for the role.
Melashvili argued that regional development requires identifying local priorities, developing projects, securing funding and promoting public-private partnerships - areas he said security officials have little relevant experience in. He believes the ministry was created for purposes other than genuine regional development, particularly political control.
According to Melashvili, Mdinaradze’s departure from politics weakened Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, as the planned state minister for regional policy was not created after Mdinaradze left. The Regional Development Ministry, established last year, is also being abolished and merged back into the Infrastructure Ministry.
Melashvili also criticized the ministry’s 2026 budget of GEL 132 million, noting that GEL 70 million was allocated for transporting public school students and GEL 35 million for school infrastructure. He said such functions should largely fall under local self-government rather than being presented as regional development policy.
