Acting President of Georgia Nino Burdzhanadze appointed new plenipotentiary representatives of the central authorities to two – for the most part inhabited by Armenians – regions of Georgia. As reported by Georgian sources, Vano Merabishvili became the representative in Samtskhe-Javakhetia, while Irakli Okruashvili was appointed to Kvemo-Kartli, the former being a member of “Burdzhanazde-Democrats” bloc, the latter representing the “United National Movement” headed by Mikhail Sahakashvili.