TTBILSI. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Changes may take place in the Georgian government, Georgia's Imedi television channel reported.
Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, may take up the post of prime minister, currently held by Irakli Garibashvili, it said.
The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party's political council on January 24 and will be made public on February 1, Imedi reported.
An extraordinary congress of Georgian Dream, where Irakli Garibashvili will assume the post of the party's chairman, will be held on February 1, it said.
Meanwhile, other Georgian media have reported that a reshuffle within the country's government will be announced at the party's congress on February 1.
Besides Kobakhidze's appointment as prime minister, five ministers will be replaced. In particular, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Culture and Sports Minister Thea Tsulukiani, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze, and Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili will leave their posts.
Georgian opposition TV channels have reported that the reshuffle was initiated by Georgian Dream's honored chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who "still controls the entire political process in Georgia."