Georgian govt did not consider cancellation of Tbilisi residents' benefits - mayor
TBILISI. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava was not given a chance to raise the issue of cancelling the social benefits of some 600,000 city people at a Friday session of the Georgian Cabinet.
"I was told that the issue had not been included in the agenda and therefore would not be discussed. Prime Minister [Bidzina] Ivanishvili tried to teach me subordination and lecture me. Two musclemen were put next to him as if I had tried to attack him," Ugulava told reporters.
He said he only wanted to raise with the new Cabinet the issue of suspending benefits to students, pensioners, teachers, big families and other socially vulnerable categories.
"The nation elected the party to resolve its social problems but one gets the impression that the new government in the building of the State Chancellery is starting to resemble a tower with devils who are tackling only their own problems," Ugulava said.
The mayor is a leading member of the former ruling United National Movement. Most members of the Tbilisi legislative assembly are also members of this party.