Commander of National Guard, Zurab Arsoshvili, has been appointed as new governor of Shida Kartli region, replacing Lado Vardzelashvili.

The post of Shida Kartli region’s governor was vacant after Vardzelashvili was appointed as minister for youth and sport affairs earlier this month.

Arsoshvili, 32, was a ruling party lawmaker before becoming Commander of National Guard in May, 2009. He served in the Interior Ministry between 2000 and 2004; held various positions in the Financial Police between 2004 and 2008, including head of the Financial Police’s investigations unit in Shida Kartli region in 2005-2006.