The presidium of the Georgian Wrestling Federation did not support the initiative of president Luka Kurtanidze. Today the majority of the presidium members dismissed Kurtanidze from his post. The presidium named three candidates for the post of acting president.

Half an hour before the start of the meeting, Luka Kurtanidze met representatives of sports mass media in his office and awarded them with presents for their support.

“It is the merit of journalists that today wrestling is popular in Georgia. I was planning to meet you on New Year but I have decided to do it now. I urgently called the meeting of the presidium due to current situation. I will announce that I will stop my authority and will suggest to hold the congress on February 26. Before that Edisher Machaidze, vice president of the federation, will be acting president. He will make all important decisions” – Kurtanidze told us.

Then the president went to the press conference hall where the majority of the presidium members met him quite coldly. Kurtanidze read 15-minute report regarding his work in the federation. Then he stated he wanted Machaidze to be an acting president until February 26. The presidium was against the initiative of the president. Gogi Makasarashvili, one of the heads of Supervisory Board, raised an issue about the resignation of Kurtanidze and soon open voting was held. Soso Jachvliani, member of the Parliament, tried to defend Kurtanidze which caused aggression of the presidium, sportsmen and coaches. Finally, 29 from 33 delegates voted for resignation of Kurtanidze.

The presidium members made some other important decisions. Three people will be acting presidents: Dimitri Gelashvili, vice president of the federation, general secretary Giorgi Lomidze and Roman Rurua, head of the Supervisory Board. The next congress will be held on December 26. Presidential candidates can submit applications on December 5-20. The group of 12 members will prepare the congress.

And another important issue – the coaching staffs dismissed by Kurtanidze in September will head the freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams.