20:14, 5 May 2004

Direct presidential rule to be established in Adjaria after Abashidze's resignation

The president of Georgia plans to establish direct presidential rule in the Adjarian autonomy from the moment when Aslan Abashidze resigns as head of Adjaria and until a new local government is elected. Mikhail Saakashvili announced it in his special television address to the Adjarian population on May 5.

"We are not going to change Adjaria's status as an autonomous region. But I'm going to establish direct presidential rule in the autonomy for the transitional period. The Provisional Council will be appointed as well, which will govern the autonomy in the near future, until elections of a new local government are held and the power that the Adjarian population wants is elected," Mikhail Saakashvili said in his address.

Source: Novosti-Gruzia Information Agency