Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced about the reshuffle at the government during an urgent briefing on July 21.

Six ministers and one state minister are leaving their posts, local media reported.

Prison System Minister Sozar Subari has been named for the post of the minister for internally displaced persons and accommodation, replacing Davit Darakhvelidze.

Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Elguja Khokrishvili will become the Minister of Environment Protection, replacing Khatuna Gogaladze.

Other ministers who have lost posts in the cabinet are: Agriculture Minister Shalva Pipia, Culture Minister Guram Odisharia and State Minister for Diaspora Konstantine Surguladze.

The new ministers are expected to be appointed in no later than 14 days.

Commenting on the reason for the reshuffle, Garibashvili said Georgia is facing new challenges, so new pace is needed to overcome them.

"The Georgian authorities are well aware of the great responsibility which they took upon the Georgian people. That is why we must work with doubled energy to further strengthen the confidence of the people and fulfill all the promises given by the "Georgian Dream" coalition," he noted.

Garibashvili also ruled out early parliamentary polls and said the elections will be held in 2016.