Newly appointed Culture Minister Maia Bitadze has dismissed two deputy ministers, Giorgi Mirtskhulava and Grigol Tsertsvadze, while Mikheil Kiknadze has retained his position.
Kiknadze was appointed Deputy Minister after Tinatin Rukhadze left the post and also served as acting head of the ministry. The Ministry told BM.GE that the two deputies have been dismissed and no new deputies have been appointed yet.
Following a change of minister, deputies formally leave their positions as part of the standard procedure. The ministry’s official website currently only lists the order appointing Kiknadze. Earlier, following the resignation of the minister, First Deputy Minister Maka Gurgenidze also left the ministry on June 28.
The Culture Minister’s position became vacant after Tinatin Rukhadze resigned on July 28, citing health reasons. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on September 14 that he would soon nominate a new minister and presented Maia Bitadze for the position at a government briefing on September 15.
