Tbilisi, 25 November 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Georgia's parliament today scheduled the presidential election for 4 January, following the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze on 23 November. The unanimous decision came hours after Georgia's Supreme Court invalidated the fraud-tainted parliamentary vote that sparked the mass public protests that forced Shevardnadze to resign as president on Sunday.
Earlier today, a second Georgian minister close to Shevardnadze resigned. The resignation of Minister of State Avtandil Djorbenadze came a day after the interior minister, another Shevardnadze ally, quit his post. Interim President Nino Burdjanadze blamed Djorbenadze for Georgia's desperate economic situation.
Earlier today, a second Georgian minister close to Shevardnadze resigned. The resignation of Minister of State Avtandil Djorbenadze came a day after the interior minister, another Shevardnadze ally, quit his post. Interim President Nino Burdjanadze blamed Djorbenadze for Georgia's desperate economic situation.