MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of the Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM), a leading party in the parliamentary minority, announced on December 28 it was “highly probable” that Giorgi Chanturia, once an influential figure in ex-president Shevardnadze’s administration, would be CDM’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate in next year’s local elections.

Chanturia was president of the Georgian International Oil Corporation (GIOC) during Shevardnadze’s presidency.

MP Giorgi Targamadze said that CDM and Chanturia would have “very serious chance” of success. He described Chanturia as an experienced manager with an experience of implementing important projects.