**New Face in Batumi: Giorgi Murvanidze Takes Over as Mayor**
In a move that has left many guessing, Giorgi Murvanidze was appointed the new mayor of Batumi on May 14. This change comes after Archil Chikovani resigned from the position just a day prior. But who is Giorgi Murvanidze, and what does this appointment mean for the city?
**A Career in Law Enforcement**
Before becoming mayor, Murvanidze had a long career in law enforcement. He worked as an investigator at the Batumi District Prosecutor’s Office from 2004 to 2005, followed by a stint as senior investigator in the investigative unit of the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office. Since 2007, he held various positions within the Levan Samkharauli National Bureau of Forensic Expertise, including assistant to the deputy head and later, head of the Adjara Regional Expertise Department.
**A Series of Reshuffles**
This appointment is part of a larger trend of reshuffling officials within the Georgian Dream (GD) party. Just weeks ago, Tornike Rizhvadze resigned as Chairman of the Government of Adjara, making way for Sulkhan Tamazashvili, a former Ministry of Internal Affairs officer who has faced sanctions from the United Kingdom. This series of changes has left experts speculating about the motivations behind these moves.
**Consolidating Power?**
Some are questioning whether this reshuffle is a sign of Georgian Dream’s attempt to consolidate power and control within the party. With elections on the horizon, GD may be trying to position itself for greater dominance in the country. But what does this mean for the people of Batumi and Georgia as a whole?
**A New Chapter**
As Giorgi Murvanidze takes over as mayor, one thing is certain – this new chapter will bring significant changes to the city of Batumi. Will these changes be positive or negative remains to be seen.
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