How did red tulips become a symbol of solidarity in Georgia?

Several days ago, 63-year-old farmer Kako Jeiranashvil from Georgia’s Eastern Kakheti region thought that thousands of the tulips he had planned to sell at the Navtlugi Market in Tbilisi, were doomed to die. As a result of the nationwide curfew amid the coronavirus outbreak, Jeiranashvili could not bring his tulips to the capital. 

However, Jeiranishvili’s luck turned around when one Facebook user spread the story of his hardship and with the result of a social campaign, 5,000 GEL (about $1,600) was gathered for the farmer.

In addition to tulips, Jeiranashvili also has peach orchids in the village of Kolagi. He fears that if the coronavirus preventive measures lasts longer, hundreds of farmers in Kakheti will be left without income. Photo: Giorgi Aladashvili/Radio Liberty.

I’m grateful for each person who had the desire to help me. Some transferred 1 GEL, others -150 GEL. The amount of money doesn’t matter for me. The most important thing is that I saw the support of people”, said Jeiranashvili.

The money gathered via social campaign covered not only all of the farmer’s losses, but turned out to be two times more than he expected.

The sum covered not only all of the farmer’s losses, but turned out to be two times more than he expected. Photo: Giorgi Aladashvili/Radio Liberty

Jeiranashvili wanted to express his gratitude to doctors who spared no effort for patients infected with the virus. 

With the help of activists, hundreds of his unsold red tulips with inscriptions were delivered to the doctors from different hospitals: “Dear doctors! We are proud of you”, “Our life is in your hands”.

Our main goal was to help the man who worked hard. We hope he has the desire to continue planting many beautiful flowers in future. The work of each person is precious to us. The work of the medics who risk their lives for us is also invaluable. We wanted to show people that together we will manage everything”, said one of the activists Sopo Akhalaia to on.ge.

The number of cases of coronavirus has reached 188 in Georgia as on April 6. Photo: Ketevan Lortkipanidze/Facebook.

The success of Georgia in the fight against the COVID-19 has been praised by the international media several times in recent days. The Telegraph has published an article about how this small country like many other smaller European nations has managed to have a death rate in the single digits.

An article with the title “Georgia’s coronavirus miracle: so far, so good” published by Emerging Europe reads that so ‘successful has Georgia been in keeping the virus at bay, that governments around the world are looking at how the small Caucasus country has managed to control the spread of COVID-19 so well’.

The number of cases of coronavirus reached 188 in Georgia as of the morning of April 6.

36 of the 188 have recovered, while two elderly women with several underlying health issues have died.