“I tried to be the prime minister for every citizen.

“I was and I remain a team player. Based on this, I am noticing the moods in my team and make the decision which any team leader should make in my position. I resign,’’ he told a briefing.

Under the Georgian Constitution, prime minister’s resignation automatically leads to the resignation of country’s government.

Within seven days after the resignation, the Georgian president must nominate a candidate for the prime minister, who should be approved by the parliament’s majority.

Kvirikashvili stressed that over the past months, there had been several fundamental issues, on which his position had not coincided with that of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s, the founder and the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

“This is a normal process. I never run away from the controversy, and I think that today is the moment when Ivanishvili should be given an opportunity to form a team based on his views,’’ Kvirikashvili added.

The prime minister’s resignation may be connected with rallies held in the Georgian capital in late May and June.

The protesters demanded that the authorities conduct an impartial investigation into the case of 16-year-old David Saralidze, killed in a street brawl.

They also called for government’s resignation, as the investigation failed to identify the murderer of the boy.

Kvirikashvili has been the Georgian prime minister since December 2015.