Gela Bezhuashvili

Gela Bezhuashvili
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office October 19, 2005 – January 31, 2008
President	Mikheil Saakashvili
Preceded by	Salome Zurabishvili
Succeeded by	David Bakradze
Personal details
Born	March 1, 1967 Manglisi
Alma mater	Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Southern Methodist University Harvard University
Signature

Gela Bezhuashvili(Georgian:გელა ბეჟუაშვილიborn March 1, 1967) is aGeorgianpolitician and served as the head of theGeorgian Intelligence Servicefrom February 1, 2008 to December 27, 2013.He formerly served as Minister of Defense from February 2004 to June 2004, Secretary of theNational Security Council of Georgiafrom June 2004 to October 2005, andMinister of Foreign Affairs of Georgiafrom October 19, 2005 to January 31, 2008.

Education

He was born in thetownletofManglisi,Georgia, in 1967. In 1991, he graduated from theUkrainianInstitute of International Relations and International Law,Kiev State University,Faculty of International Law. In 1997 obtained Master of Law degree, LL.M-International and Comparative Law,Southern Methodist University(SMU)School of Law,Dallas,United States.In 2003 he entered the JFK School of Government,Harvard Universityas a mid-career student and is a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree candidate.

Career

Bezhuashvili started his career at the Georgian Foreign Ministry in the early 1990s, including being the Envoy Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary toKazakhstanbetween 1993 and 1996. Throughout the 1990s, he was also actively involved in cooperation with theCouncil of Europe(CoE) and served as a chief negotiator at the accession of Georgia to the CoE in 1999. He then served as deputy Defense Minister from 2000 to 2004, and Defense Minister from February 2004 to June 2004, being the first civilian to be appointed to this post in post-Soviet Georgia. From June 2004 to October 2005, he was the Secretary of theNational Security Council of Georgia,and replacedSalome Zourabichvilias Minister of Foreign Affairs on October 19, 2005.

In January 2008, he was replaced withDavid Bakradzeas a foreign minister, and was reported to have decided to quit public life in favour of the private sector. On January 30, 2008, he was appointed a head of the Intelligence Department of Georgia, succeedingAnna Zhvania.Bezhuashvili continued to occupy the office under the new government ofBidzina Ivanishviliand his successor,Irakli Garibashvili,until December 27, 2013, when he was replaced with Davit Sujashvili.

Since 2000, along with his official duties, he was involved in scientific research on International Law issues. He is author of the book "International legal aspects of Georgian Foreign Policy," 2003 and a number of articles. He holds the diplomatic rank ofAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaryand the civil service rank of State Chancellor.

Bezhuashvili is married and has two sons and one daughter. He speaksGeorgian,English,RussianandFrench.His brotherDavidis co-owner of the television stationsMze TVandRustavi 2as well as member of the Georgian parliament (United National Movement).

External links

Media related toGela Bezhuashviliat Wikimedia Commons

• http:// gelabezhuashvili.ge
• Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Georgian Intelligence Service