Poti Municipal Board Elected Chairman from the National Movement

Inga Gvasalia, Poti

At the session of Poti Municipal Board on December 18, despite the protest of the Georgian Dream’s supporters municipal board members elected Davit Babilua from the National Movement to be a board chairman.

An oppositionist member of the municipal board Mogeli Tkebuchava from the Georgian Dream left session in protest. He threatened the board members with suing them at the court.

A day before, the session was failed because of noise caused by the GD supporters who protested Babilua’s candidature for the position.

The protesters demanded the municipal board to resign and elect Mogeli Tkebuchava of the Georgian Dream for the position of the board chairman. However, Tkebuchava denied his connection with the protesters.

Vacancy was announced on the position of the board chairman after Ivane Saginadze resigned on December 6.

Board majority from the National Movement evaluated the demands and activities of the protesters as an oppression on the board but GD supporters replied: “We had been under your oppression during 9 years and you should adjust to new reality now and go. It is enough for you to enjoy your extreme power; you have destroyed the city and do you still want to continue working here peacefully? It is public demand not oppression.”

Activists of the Georgian Dream loudly complained about board members. One of them rebuked the former chairman of the municipal board: “What did you do for the city during your acting as a board chairman except employing your brother, relatives and friends from Khoni district whilst local residents of Poti do not have jobs.” They reminded a board member Darejan Tskhvitiria how she was threatening GD’s activist before elections but Tskhvitiria denied the accusation.

Interim board chairwoman Magda Menabde called police but law enforcement officers did not demand citizens to stop protest; they left building after board members made explanations to them.

As for the new board chairman Davit Babilua, he claims he has never been member of the National Movement. But, after the local self governmental elections of 2010 he became board member from the list of the National Movement. Babilua was actively involved in the parliamentary elections too. Even more, he was considered to be a candidate of the National Movement.

Babilua is a famous businessman in Poti. Since 2004 he has been director of the company Paliastomi 2004.