PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced on Friday about appointing Levan Davitashvili and Ilia Eloshvili as new agriculture and energy ministers, respectively, and proposed appointing state minister for Euro-Atlantic and European integration, Davit Bakradze, as Georgia’s next ambassador to the United States after October 8 parliamentary elections.

Levan Davitashvili, who has been deputy agriculture minister for past two years, replaced Otar Danelia, who had to resign as he runs for Parliament in a single-member majoritarian district uniting Martvili and Abasha municipalities.

Ilia Eloshvili, who served as deputy energy minister since 2012, has replaced Kakha Kaladze, who is also running for Parliament – he is number two on GDDG party list of MP candidates.

Also on September 9, PM Kvirikashvili said that he has agreed with President Giorgi Margvelashvili to appoint State Minister Davit Bakradze as ambassador to the U.S., replacing Archil Gegeshidze, who was appointed in early 2013. The PM said that the appointment would be made after Georgia’s October 8 parliamentary elections.

Ambassadors are appointed by the President. President’s office confirmed it had consultations with the PM’s office and welcomed picking Bakradze as Georgia’s next ambassador to the U.S.

Before becoming the State Minister in November 2014, Bakradze served as Georgia’s ambassador to Greece. In May, 2016 he became a member of ruling GDDG party’s main governing body, political council; but since then, it appears he has opted to pursue diplomatic career.