State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava further stepped up criticism of some officials over the Sandro Girgvliani murder case trial.

“This [Sandro Girgvliani’s murder] was such a case that I would have resigned if I were the Interior Minister,” Giorgi Khaindrava said while speaking at the political talk-show Reaction aired by the Imedi television on July 7.

The opposition political parties are insisting on the Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili’s resignation accusing him of covering up those former Interior Ministry’s officials who have allegedly ordered the crime.

Key governmental officials announced on July 7 that they back Interior Minister and his resignation is not on the agenda.

Giorgi Khaindrava also criticized Chairman of the Supreme Court Kote Kublashvili for “keeping silence” and not voicing protest over the trial on the Girgvliani case.

State Minister Giorgi Khaindrava has recently voiced some statements which are not in the official line adhered by the other governmental officials, which triggered speculations in the Georgian media sources that Khaindrava might soon go into opposition. 

Dismissal or resignation of at least one Minister will automatically lead to a resignation of the entire cabinet, as it will be sixth replacement among the government members since the current cabinet was approved in February, 2005. According to the law the entire cabinet should resign if one-third of its members change.