Irakli Chubinishvili, Georgia’s ambassador to Russia, has resigned, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has confirmed.

Although there has been no official confirmation, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, the founder and former owner of Rustavi 2 TV, is widely expected to be appointed as the new ambassador.

Kitsmarishvili sold his shares in Rustavi 2 TV in 2004. Last year, he briefly served as a consultant at the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), but quit after apparently falling out with GPB Director-General Tamar Kintsurashvili.