Mamuka Mdinaradze has resigned as Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and announced his decision to leave politics.

Mdinaradze made the announcement during a briefing on Thursday, saying that his 10 years in politics had been defined by hard work, loyalty to his country and efforts to serve Georgia alongside his colleagues.

“I have decided to leave my position, and politics as well”, Mdinaradze said.

He thanked the Georgian Dream party’s team, including its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, party members, leaders and supporters, for their contribution to what he described as a major national cause.

According to Mdinaradze, one of the achievements of the past decade has been bringing Georgia to a point where decisions concerning the country and its people are made in Georgia.

“Never before in Georgia was there a situation where decisions were made here, by Georgians, by the Georgian people, concerning our homeland. Today, we truly have this situation”, he said.

Mdinaradze also thanked his family, saying his decision would allow him to devote more attention to them.

“Very sincerely, I will also tell you that if you are fully involved in politics for 10 years, with maximum responsibility, it is extremely difficult. It is not an easy thing”, he said.

He expressed gratitude to those who had supported him and the Georgian Dream team throughout their political work, saying their encouragement had given them the motivation to serve the country with greater determination.

“I want to thank those people, including every supporter, not only members of our team, who give us the motivation to serve our country with greater zeal”, Mdinaradze concluded.