Acting Minister of Defence Dimitri Shshkin decided to leave Georgia. He published the regarding statement on his Facebook page.
"Georgian people made their choice and I respect this choice. However, my values are absolutely different from those of the new majority. I worked with President Saakashvili because I shared his ideas and ideals. I spent four of my happiest years in the Government of Mikheil Saakashvili and we all brought Georgia in the zenith of its development", - Sahshkin says in his address.
Shashkin names the reforms in the education sector as one of his main achievements. He talked about the defense sector as well. "Georgia has never been so close to NATO and membership in the Alliance has never been so close and realistic as it is today. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the new government will continue this course", - Shashkin says.
"I made a decision to leave Georgia but with the hope to return and have another opportunity to serve my country and my people. I will not be surprised that you will hear many "unheard" stories about me in the nearest future. People who know me will not believe these rumors, but I would like to assure those who do not know me that I never broke law and always fulfilled my duties with the utmost sense of responsibility. I do not regret any single decision that I have made during the past four years and I stand ready to answer any question that may arise", - he says.
