Davit Kezerashvili
Encyclopedia
Davit Kezerashvili (born September 22, 1978) is a Georgian
politician, who from November 10, 2006 to December 5, 2008 was the country's Minister of Defense
.
. After migrating to Russia
, he went to Israel
in 1992, where he lived with his grandmother in the Kiryat Ben-Gurion neighborhood of Holon and attended high school. After a year and a half, he left Israel and returned to Georgia.
He studied law and international relations at Tbilisi State University
.
After working in the Justice Ministry he became an assistant to Mikheil Saakashvili
, then the Minister for Justice.
Kezerashvili then worked in the Finance Ministry from 2004 until November 2006, including a role as chair of the financial police force. On November 11, 2006, he was appointed as Georgian Defense Minister, replacing Irakli Okruashvili
. He was dismissed from this post amid criticisms over the Georgia-Russia war
on December 5, 2008.
, and contested an election in 2002 under their banner.
He is also a close personal ally of the party's leader, Georgian President Saakashvili.
Shalva Natelashvili of the Georgian Labour Party
criticized Kezerashvili's appointment, arguing that he "has never served in the army... doesn't even have the title of sergeant and has no clue about the armed forces."
As chief of the financial police, Kezerashvili received criticism for heavy-handed tactics in raiding businesses.
Kezerashvili was dismissed from his post of the defence minister on December 5, 2008 during a major cabinet shuffle. His dismissal has been expected in the aftermath of Georgia's defeat in the 2008 South Ossetia War
. Davit Kezerashvili is succeeded by former ambassador to the US, Vasil Sikharulidze
.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
politician, who from November 10, 2006 to December 5, 2008 was the country's Minister of Defense
Ministry of Defense (Georgia)
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia is the Georgian government ministry, in charge of Georgian Armed Forces and regulating activities in defense of the country from external threats, preserving territorial integrity and waging wars on behalf of Georgia...
.
Biography
Kezerashvili was born in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. After migrating to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, he went to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1992, where he lived with his grandmother in the Kiryat Ben-Gurion neighborhood of Holon and attended high school. After a year and a half, he left Israel and returned to Georgia.
He studied law and international relations at Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
.
After working in the Justice Ministry he became an assistant to Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
, then the Minister for Justice.
Kezerashvili then worked in the Finance Ministry from 2004 until November 2006, including a role as chair of the financial police force. On November 11, 2006, he was appointed as Georgian Defense Minister, replacing Irakli Okruashvili
Irakli Okruashvili
Irakli Okruashvili is a Georgian politician who had served on various important posts in the Government of Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili, including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006.In September 2007, Okruashvili staged a...
. He was dismissed from this post amid criticisms over the Georgia-Russia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
on December 5, 2008.
Political track record
Kezerashvili is a founding member of the liberal United National MovementNational Movement - Democrats
United National Movement is the main center-right party, largest political organization and current governing party in Georgia.- History :UNM was founded in October 2001 by Mikheil Saakashvili...
, and contested an election in 2002 under their banner.
He is also a close personal ally of the party's leader, Georgian President Saakashvili.
Shalva Natelashvili of the Georgian Labour Party
Georgian Labour Party
The Georgian Labour Party is a political party in Georgia. The party is led by its founder Shalva Natelashvili.Its main goal is to make Georgia a democratic country and eventually to become a member of the European Union...
criticized Kezerashvili's appointment, arguing that he "has never served in the army... doesn't even have the title of sergeant and has no clue about the armed forces."
As chief of the financial police, Kezerashvili received criticism for heavy-handed tactics in raiding businesses.
Kezerashvili was dismissed from his post of the defence minister on December 5, 2008 during a major cabinet shuffle. His dismissal has been expected in the aftermath of Georgia's defeat in the 2008 South Ossetia War
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
. Davit Kezerashvili is succeeded by former ambassador to the US, Vasil Sikharulidze
Vasil Sikharulidze
Vasil Sikharulidze is a Georgian diplomat and politician. He has been foreign affairs advisor to the President of Georgia since August 27, 2009...
.
See also
- Foreign relations of GeorgiaForeign relations of GeorgiaGeorgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, gives it strategic importance far beyond its size. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to the Caucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey...
- Politics of Georgia