Okruashvili expected to speak about future plans after return from Kiev later on Saturday.

Economy Minister Irakli Okruashvili submitted his resignation without specifying the motive behind the decision, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on November 17.

“An hour and a half ago Irakli Okruashvili phoned me and, to my surprise, he told me that he plans to resign. He has already filed for resignation. It was an absolutely unexpected move both for me and the President. You know that we have just appointed him as Economy Minister and on Sunday [November 12] we discussed our plans in respect to economic policy,” PM Nogaideli said at a news conference at 6 pm local time.

“It was a really unexpected move by Okruashvili. He did not say anything about th emotives behind his decision. It was a surprise for me and for the President as well, no one expected it. That is all I wanted to say,” he said.

Resignation of Okruashvili, the most influential member of the cabinet and Saakashvili’s close ally, comes a week after he was appointed Economy Minister following his removal from the Defense Minister’s position on November 10.

The news was a surprise for lawmakers from the ruling National Movement party as well. “I am shocked,” MP Nino Kalandadze said.

“There must be a serious reason behind his decision. It is clear that he was not very happy with his removal from the Defense Minister’s position. Not only I, but everyone noticed his gloomy face when he was appointed to the new position,” MP Elene Tevdoradze said.

“I think it will create problems, because I think Okruashvili is an influential political figure... I think it will be a loss for the government and political circles,” MP Levan Bezhashvili said.

“It will be a blow for the executive government,” MP Pavle Kublashvili said.

President Saakashvili has yet to comment on Okruashvili’s decision.

Saakashvili said on November 10 while commenting on the motives behind the cabinet reshuffle that he appointed Okruashvili as Economy Minister because Russia’s aggression towards Georgia was mainly targeting the economy.

Opposition politicians and many analysts alleged that Okruashvili’s controversial statements about breakaway South Ossetia’s reunification deadlines were the major reason behind his removal from the Defense Minister’s position.

In May 2006, Okruashvili said that he would resign from the Defense Minister’s position if Georgia failed to reunite breakaway South Ossetia by January 1, 2007.

Okruashvili showed signs of regret about his new assignment from the very first day of the cabinet reshuffle.

“I want to urge [the Economy Ministry] staff to help me concentrate all of my energies on this new job, because my heart and soul remain with the army. It is not easy to work with me, but it is interesting,” Okruashvili said on November 11, when he held his first meeting with the Economy Ministry staff.

Some lawmakers have already alleged that Okruashvili’s statements about South Ossetia could have been a reason behind his decision to quit the government.

“Everyone knows about Okruashvili’s statements about South Ossetia; at this point I think that it is a reason behind his decision,” MP Kublashvili of the ruling party said.
 
“Okruashvili’s decision was linked with his statements about Tskhinvali and we all expected him to follow his commitment. Through this move he has confirmed that he is an honorable person, who can keep his promise,” MP Kakha Kukava of the opposition Conservative Party said.
 
Okruashvili himself has not yet commented on the decision or his future plans.