Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Levan Kipiani, resigned on April 29, becoming the third cabinet member to step down in a week and the seventh one since the incumbent government won parliament's confidence vote in July, 2014, effectively causing the resignation of the entire cabinet, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
According to the constitution, replacement of one-third of 20-member cabinet since it last won the parliament's confidence vote leads to the launch of procedures for a new confidence vote.
"I leave my office, I'm in the sport and remain in the sport," said Kipiani at the briefing on April 29. He expressed hope that the new minister of sport will continue the course the ministry has been adhering to for the last time.
"I know that my resignation will cause the need for a renewed confidence vote for the government, but I am sure our [political] team will win parliament's confidence vote," Kipiani said.
The minister also said that he previously appealed to the prime minister with a request for resignation, but the prime minister did not satisfy his request then.
On April 28, Minister of Environment Elguja Khokrishvili filed resignation citing family reasons and a week earlier Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Davit Shavliashvili was replaced.
Edited by CN