Akhvlabarsky Palace of the Georgian president may become a hotel in future. This opinion was expressed by the Finance Minister, Nodar Khaduri. "The Akhvlabar residence may well be converted into a hotel, it's a fun place with a good view, it is the historic centre of Tbilisi," he said.
The minister noted that the decision to vacate the palacial residence of the President has already been taken, VZGLYAD reports. He stressed that it was "absolutely possible" to transfer the presidential residence and others to investors.
Such a move will not affect the work of the President, the Minister promised, adding that the former prime minister, Vano Merabishvili, was also preparing for a separate residence, spending $18 million for the former U.S. Embassy
As VK previously reported, the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili called on President Mikheil Saakashvili to move his work out of the presidential palace to the State Chancellery, where he will occupy a whole floor. According to him, this is connected with the maximum reduction in spending on the maintenance of the presidential administration. "On electricity alone, the president spends 800 thousand laris ($1 = 1.66 lari), and the state budget is not going to take on these costs," the prime minister said.
Ivanishvili also said that in 2013 he will become the head of state, when the presidential palace should be passed to him, though he does not intend to move there.
Later it became known that Mikhail Saakashvili has accepted offers to leave the palace towering over Tbilisi.
