Irakli Alasania
Irakli Alasania ირაკლი ალასანია | |
|---|---|
Dimitri Shashkin | |
| Succeeded by | Mindia Janelidze |
| Chairman of the Free Democrats | |
| In office 16 July 2009 – 19 February 2017 | |
| Preceded by | party established |
| Succeeded by | Shalva Shavgulidze |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 December 1973 Georgian Army |
| Years of service | 1994 – 2004 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Irakli Alasania (
Early life and career
Irakli Alasania was born in
Diplomatic service
On September 28, 2004, Georgian President
Alasania continued working on Abkhazian issues, and with through his efforts, the UN General Assembly discussed the issue of displaced persons due to the conflicts in Georgia and passed resolution GA/10708 which recognized the right of return by refugees and internally displaced persons to Abkhazia as well as restitution of property.[2]
Alasania retained his position of the President's special envoy for the Abkhazia issue and in this capacity, paid a surprise and largely unpublicized visit to Sukhumi on May 12, 2008, where he presented a Georgia-Abkhaz peace plan. The move came amid the stalemate in the Georgian-Abkhaz talks and increasing
Due to his appointment as Georgia's Representative to the UN during the 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia, Alasania was the Georgian government's key negotiator with the UN Security Council and voiced the need for quick and decisive UN and international pressure on Russia to end the conflict.[4]
Alasania resigned his position as Georgia's Permanent Representative at the U.N. on December 4, 2008, citing concerns over the Georgian government's handling of the 2008 war with Russia.[5]
Political career
On 26 December 2008, several days after his return to Georgia, Alasania announced that he was in talks with Georgian opposition and would actively enter Georgian politics. Alasania criticized the government's handling of recent events, blaming it for "falling into a Russian trap" (a reference to the August 2008
On February 16, 2009, Alasania held a press conference, naming members of his group and declared his vision for Georgia's political and economic future. Among people appearing with him as supporters were several former ambassadors including
On February 23, 2009, Alasania's team joined the
On 16 July 2009, the political party
In February 2012, the Georgian Dream Political Coalition was founded with the Free Democrats as one of three co-founding political parties.[12] On 2012 Georgian parliamentary election, Alasania was 3th no. in coalition's proportional list and majoritarian candidate in Zugdidi constituency. Alasania got 36,01% and finished on second place. Coalition won election and got 85 seats in parliament.
Alasania served as Minister of Defense from October 2012 until November 2014, when Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili replaced him with Mindia Janelidze,[13] after 6 of Ministry's senior members were arrested on charges of embezzlement and Alasania called it "attack on Euro-Atlantic choice". After this, "Free Democrats" left ruling coalition and withdraw into opposition.
On
References
- ^ Alasania's UN Appointment Triggers Controversy. Civil Georgia. March 13, 2006.
- ^ General Assembly Adopts Resolution Recognizing Right of Return by Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons to Abkhazia, Georgia 15 May 2008
- ^ Georgia's UN Envoy Meets Abkhaz Leader in Sokhumi.[permanent dead link] Civil Georgia. May 13, 2008.
- ^ Georgia's UN Ambassador Urges International Pressure on Russia. "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty". 9 August 2008
- ^ Alasania Resigns with Politics in Mind. "Civil Georgia". 6 December 2008
- ^ Another Saakashvili Friend Turns Foe. Archived 2017-01-02 at the Wayback Machine Eurasia Insight. December 25, 2008.
- ^ Alasania: Saakashvili Must Resign. Civil Georgia. January 25, 2008.
- ^ Irakli Alasania Presents His Political Team. Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Georgia Today. February 20, 2009.
- ^ Alasania Leads New Alliance with New Rights, Republicans. Civil Georgia. February 23, 2009
- ^ rferl. rferl (2009-07-17). Retrieved on 2012-06-05.
- ^ Alasania to Run for Tbilisi Mayoral Office. Civil Georgia. 23 September 2009
- ^ Ivanishvili Launches Coalition. "Civil Georgia". 21 February 2012
- ^ Civil.ge (2014-11-04). "PM Sacks Defense Minister Alasania". Civil.ge. Retrieved 2014-11-04.