**New Leader Elected in Tbilisi City Assembly**
On May 23, Zurab Abashidze was elected as the new chair of the Tbilisi City Assembly. He takes over from Giorgi Tkemaladze, who stepped down to become Vice Mayor of Tbilisi.
In a statement after his election, Abashidze expressed his gratitude and said that it is an honor to lead Georgia’s capital city. He also mentioned that he looks forward to resolving the current problems in the capital.
**Who is Zurab Abashidze?**
Abashidze, 52, has a political background that spans over two decades. He was part of the opposition during the UNM government (2003-2012) and served as secretary general of the Free Democrats party from 2009 to 2010. The party, led by Irakli Alasania, was part of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition until November 5, 2014.
However, the Free Democrats failed to cross the 5% threshold in the 2016 parliamentary elections, leading to a split within the party. Abashidze, along with four other senior members, left the party in 2016.
**Career Highlights**
Abashidze’s career has taken him from politics to diplomacy. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kazakhstan. Since 2021, he has been the deputy chair of the Tbilisi City Assembly.
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