Zurab Pataradze, a diplomat who chaired the Adjara Autonomous government years ago, has been nominated to return to the post, Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili announced on April 23. The region’s Supreme Council, dominated by Georgian Dream, is set to approve the nomination.
Pataradze will replace Sulkhan Tamazashvili, a UK-sanctioned official who is set to become Georgia’s interior minister under the ruling party’s recently announced changes affecting the country’s law enforcement and security leadership.
Pataradze, 53, served as the head of the Adjara government from 2016 until July 2018, when he resigned. He has since been Georgia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Earlier, he had also served as ambassador to Turkey (2012–2013) and Kazakhstan (2013–2016).
He “has many years of experience working in public service. For years, he worked fruitfully and successfully in the diplomatic service, where he honorably protected the interests of Georgia on the international stage,” Kavelashvili said while presenting the nomination alongside Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
Kobakhidze, on his part, said that during Pataradze’s tenure in Adjara, “the groundwork was laid for a great many large-scale infrastructure projects.” He added that “during his term as ambassador, Georgian-Azerbaijani relations moved to a new stage,” thanking him for “a special, personal contribution.”
Pataradze thanked the Georgian Dream leadership for the nomination, extending “special great thanks” to GD Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, saying, “We, as ordinary soldiers, will do everything for the well-being of our country.”
Before Sulkhan Tamazashvili, who has chaired the Adjara government since April 2025, Tornike Rizhvadze led the regional government from 2018. Months after stepping down, Rizhvadze was hospitalized with a gunshot in what authorities described as a “suicide attempt.” He was transferred to Turkey for treatment and has not reportedly returned to Georgia since.
In early April, Georgian Dream member Tsotne Ananidze became chair of the Supreme Council of Adjara, the region’s legislative body, succeeding Davit Gabaidze, who resigned after nearly a decade in the post.
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