Margvelashvili refuses to move to residence built for Saakashvili

President elect Giorgi Margvelashvili has refused to move to it
saying he will do with more modest living quarters in the building of
the State Chancellery.

This will be his temporary residence until a 19th century building
which used to house the U.S. embassy in Georgia is refurbished for him.

The refurbishing that will cost several dozen million U.S. dollars
was launched under the previous administration. The building was meant
as the residence of the future prime minister which Saakashvili was
expected to become after his second presidential term.

Speaking to the press majority leader David Saganelidze said that the
Technological University may move to the presidential palace built for
Saakashvili.

He said that spending on refurbishing the future presidential residence in Tbilisi has been slashed.

“The refurbishing was launched by former Prime Minister Vano
Merabishvili. The spending from state coffers was expected to be
enormous. About $1 million was supposed to be assigned for electronic
locks to the doors to the building alone, some $300,000 for the air
condition system. The new authorities gave up such extravagance in
refurbishing the new presidential palace, of course,” Saganelidze said.

He said that the staff of the presidential administration currently numbering 170 will also be reduced significantly.