Georgia, Tbilisi, May 18 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
On Tuesday, Georgian Parliament took a decision to create a commission for public review of an initiative on full transfer of the parliament from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, the second largest city in the country.
Under the proposed amendments to the Constitution, the parliament can be moved to Kutaisi after the next elections in 2012.
The decision to create a commission to amend the constitution was taken at the plenary meeting by 86 votes in favor and two against. Opposition representatives in the parliament opposed the initiative.
According to the latest edition of the Georgian Constitution, approved last autumn, two cities were defined for the parliament's location after the parliamentary elections in November 2012. They are Tbilisi and Kutaisi. This format envisages holding plenary sessions in Kutaisi, and MPs' work in committees - in Tbilisi.
Kutaisi is situated in western Georgia on both banks of the Rioni River at an altitude of 125-300 meters above sea level. It is connected with Tbilisi with the 220 kilometers railway.
President Mikheil Saakashvili has repeatedly stressed the initiative to unload Tbilisi. He believes the parliament should be located in Kutaisi, as it is the easiest place to gather from all over the country.
Saakashvili has also repeatedly stated about his intention to move the entire government to Kutaisi.