On April 7, TV channel Pirveli, Alia, and several Facebook pages and accounts (1, 2, 3, 4) disseminated information that the head of the Patrol Police, Vazha Siradze, is stepping down to become the governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. According to these reports, his position would be taken over by Sergi Bzishvili.
The claim circulated in media and social networks that Vazha Siradze is leaving his position has not been confirmed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs denied this information.
Vazha Siradze was appointed the Director of the Patrol Police Department in 2019. He has held various positions within the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2014. Due to his involvement in human rights violations and the crackdown on pro-European protests, Siradze has been sanctioned by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Sergi Bziashvili, who was mentioned as Siradze’s potential replacement, is currently his deputy.
The online media outlet Interpressnews verified the claim regarding Siradze’s resignation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Myth Detector also contacted the ministry for clarification. According to the ministry, Vazha Siradze will continue serving in his current position.
In recent times, several officials appointed by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, have resigned. These include the head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili; the director of the Adjara Police Department, Grigol Beselia; the head of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, Soso Ramishvili; and the chairman of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Tornike Rizhvadze.
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