H.E. Zurab Pataradze

Zurab Pataradze has served as Chairman of the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic since 28 April 2026. His professional background includes experience in public administration, foreign affairs, and the diplomatic service.

Mr. Pataradze worked in the banking sector in Batumi from 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 2000, he worked at the central office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ajara Autonomous Republic.

In 2000, Mr. Pataradze joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. He first worked at the Centre for Foreign Policy Research and later joined the Consular Department, where he remained until 2004.

From 2004 to 2009, he headed the Consular Service of the Embassy of Georgia in the Russian Federation and subsequently held the position of Consul. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Pataradze was Consul General of Georgia in Thessaloniki, Greece. He then held the position of Consul General in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, from 2011 to 2012.

In 2012, Mr. Pataradze was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Türkiye. From 2013 to 2016, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Pataradze served as Chairman of the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic. In 2018, he returned to the diplomatic service and was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he served until 2026, when he was appointed Chairman of the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic for a second time.

Mr. Pataradze was born on 12 February 1973. From 1994 to 1999, he studied finance and credit at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. He graduated from Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University with a degree in law in 2007.

He speaks Georgian, English, Russian, and Turkish. He is married and has four children.