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Tbilisi council member may be removed for political affiliation

In an interview with Rezonansi, Georgian Dream member and Deputy Chair of Tbilisi City Council David Saganelidze spoke about his possible dismissal from his position on the council.

According to Saganelidze, his recent alliance with Georgian Dream has prompted members of the council to consider removing him from his position.

Saganelidze's predecessor as Chair was Zurab Abashidze, who was dismissed after it became public knowledge that his party, the Free Democrats, joined the Georgian Dream coalition.

“When I was in this position and when it became known that I went with [Bidzina] Ivanishvili, I was immediately fired. After that, Saganelidze was elected. But Dato decided to [join] Georgian Dream," Abashidze said, maintaining that if Saganelidze is fired, a substantial reason must be given.

Saganelidze claims that United National Movement - the party that holds the most seats on council - has made its decision, but that it will not be announced until the meeting next month.



Tbilisi spends its free time at home

Rezonansi conducted a survey on how residents of Tbilisi spend their free time, finding that busy people can only dream of leisure and vacation, children cannot wait for holidays, and some people have so much free time that they do not know how to fill it.

Seventy-six percent of respondents said that they usually spend their free time at home; 13% visits friends or relatives; while only 2% said that they spend their free time outside of the city. Another 2% go to cafes and restaurants or attend concerts, and a mere 1% goes to the theatre.