George Zedgenidze is the new environment minister of Georgia. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s environment minister has resigned in order to stand for election for the National Movement party.

George Khachidze, who was appointed to the post in 2008, today announced on his Facebook page that he has resigned in order to become a member of parliament (MP) in the upcoming election.

He announced that George Zedgenidze will take over his post as environment minister. Zedgenidze used to be one of his deputies.

George Zedgenidze graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He also studied at a one-year exchange program at American, Washington and Winthrop University, State of South Carolina.

In 2011 he was appointed to the post of Deputy Environment Minister.

Among the challenges facing him in his new job is his ministry’s weak position in relation to the energy ministry in connection with hydro power development and the recent revelation that the environment ministry had seen through fingers with hunting of endangered species.