President Saakashvili appointed former lawmaker from his UNM party, Khatuna Ochiauri, as governor of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.

Also on January 12, President Saakashvili announced that he appointed Andro Barnovi as governor of Shida Kartli region.

Andro Barnovi was deputy defense minister in 2011-2012 and rector of National Defense Academy in 2010-2012; most recently he was a dean of the faculty of social and political sciences at the Tbilisi State University.

Saakashvili said that accepting this offer to take governor’s post by Barnovi “in such a difficult period” should be welcomed.