TBILISI. Dec 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Newly-appointed Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili has launched reshuffling in his office.
Okruashvili was interior minister until recently.
"The first thing Okruashvili has done is free positions at the Defense Ministry for people from his team at the Interior Ministry, which he headed before his appointment," a Defense Ministry source told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"Two deputy defense ministers, Paata Gaprindashvili, who oversaw external relations and coordination with NATO, and David Sikharulidze, who was responsible for domestic issues, have been dismissed," he said.
"It's become known that Malkhaz Maisuradze, Okruashvili's former deputy at the Interior Ministry, will be appointed new deputy defense minister," he said.
In addition, a number of medium-rank Defense Ministry officials are also being dismissed, the source said. "They are also being replaced by people from the Interior Ministry," he said.