Snap Session at the Municipal Board and Changed Opinion of Board Members

Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli

Village attorneys and specialists will no longer be required to have high education. The relevant amendments were passed at the snap session of the Gori municipal board. Seven board members did not vote for the amendments introduced to the Resolution on Qualification Requirements of the Local Self-Governance. At the previous session, every board member requested that village attorneys had high education and the draft-amendments were not passed.

Chairman of the Fraction National Movement Zviad Khmaladze believes every public servant, including village attorneys, shall have high education. Khmaladze said the board members had changed their opinions as a result of oppression on them.

Zviad Khmaladze: “We often had dispute about this topic but the board had never cancelled this issue and majority of board members had never changed their opinions within one week. I think, they were under oppression.”

Temur Naochashvili, board member: “At the previous session, the issue was not properly introduced to us and we did not vote for it. Now we thoroughly discussed this matter. So, the attorneys, who do not have diplomas, will not be dismissed because they have worked for one year very successfully.”

Board chairman Davit Razmadze said nobody had oppressed the board members; he said as a result of amendments people, without high education, will also have chance to apply for the positions of village attorneys. 

Davit Razmadze: “Village has different specific. People without high education also successfully implement the duties of village attorneys. They are sorry for not having chance to participate in the competition.”

The question was raised by the fraction Majority but Gori district governor also requested amendment of the qualification requirements. 

Papuna Koberidze, Gori district governor: “Village attorneys really do not need high education to implement their responsibilities. I need a respectful man in the village, whom locals trust. He might not have high education but will do much more than a person with diploma.”

Board members did not vote for the amendments at the session on November 8. On November 19, only seven board members were against it. Currently, 9 villages out of 22 territorial entities in the district have attorneys without diploma.