Alexandre Kvitashvili, who has served as minister of healthcare, labor and social protection, since January, 2008, resigned on August 31.

He cited “a proposal from academic circles” to take the post of Tbilisi State University’s acting rector; he may then run for the post, which is elective..

Ex-minister has declined to speak about potential replacement on his post, saying that PM Nika Gilauri would make an announcement.

PM Nika Gilauri said at a news briefing couple of hours after Kvitashvili’s announcement, that several candidates were being considered for the ministerial post and that he would name new healthcare minister next week. He thanked Kvitashvili for his work and left the conference room without taking questions.

Speculation about replacement of the healthcare minister was circulating time after time in the Georgian press in recent few months with the most recent such report came on August 31, when daily Rezonansi reported about anticipated resignation of Kvitashvili. According to the same newspaper report Koba Subeliani, minister in charge of displaced persons and refugees and Goga Khachidze, environment protection minister, are also likely to be replaced.

On August 30 a report emerged, that Minister of Culture, Nikoloz Rurua, had resigned. It, however, was denied by the Ministry of Culture and PM’s office on the same day.