Gov’t allowed to impose coronavirus restrictions without parliament’s consent for entire year
76 MPs voted for the change in the date in the 150-member parliament earlier today. Photo: Interior Ministry press office.
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The Georgian parliament has allowed the government earlier today to impose movement, labour, migration, economic and other restrictions without the declaration of a state of emergency, that is, without the approval of the legislative body until the end of the year.
A bill which was passed in May 2020 allowed the government to use the right only temporarily - until July 15, 2020, if there was the necessity taking the epidemiological situation into account.
The government has not used the right so far (since passing the bill) as the country continues to maintain a low infection rate.
76 MPs voted for the change and two went against it, with the United National Movement and the European Georgia opposition parties refusing to vote at all.
The opposition says that the bill contradicts the state constitution and gives the government a lever ‘for political repressions and violation of human rights’ in the run-up to the elections in October.
The ruling party states that the prolongation of the date was necessary as the country may face a second wave of the coronavirus in the autumn.
The government says that the change will help them act swiftly if there is a need for restrictions 'for the welfare and health of our people.'
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said the economy is starting to reopen as the government is successfully containing the spread of the coronavirus. Minister Turnava said particular attention is now being paid to companies, which have been established by foreign investors.
Fines imposed for violating the restrictions implemented by Georgia for the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus exceeds the income ratio imposed by Western European, Scandinavian and other developed countries and are disproportionately high relative to the income of the Georgian population, says the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information( IDFI) in its report ‘Measures against Covid-19 - International Practice.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has delivered a report in parliament today on how the government acted during the state of emergency, saying that Georgia has already received much praise for its fight against the coronavirus and through its timely reopening of the state economy, new opportunities are likely to open up for the country. "Tomorrow, there will be absolutely new competitions and rules in the new world, where Georgia will have the opportunity to become more successful,” Gakharia said.
The Georgian parliament has passed a bill with its third and final reading earlier today which allows the government to impose movement, labour, migration, economic and other restrictions without the declaration of the state of emergency. 94 MPs in the 150-member parliament voted for the bill, no one was against. The opposition boycotted the vote.
Georgia has reported four new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 1,003. 873 of the 1,003 patients have recovered, while 15 others have died. As of today 115 people remain infected with COVID-19 in Georgia. Three of the four new cases are imported-one from Armenia, two from Kyrgyzstan. The individuals tested positive for the coronavirus in quarantine. The Georgian parliament allowed the government yesterday to impose movement, labour, migration, economic and other restrictions without the declaration of a state of emergency.
Georgia has reported just two new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 1,006. 883 of the 1,006 patients have recovered, while 15 others have died. As of today 108 people remain infected with COVID-19 in Georgia. Georgia reported its first case of the coronavirus on February 26, 2020. Since then more than 156,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus inside the country. Georgia will open borders unconditionally for Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia starting August.
Georgia's health authorities reported eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, with 108 active cases of infection in the country.