Ruling party accuses opposition of organising rally in Marneuli against coronavirus restrictions
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The ruling Georgian Dream party has accused the opposition of organising a rally in the Marneuli municipality of eastern Georgia earlier today, which has been on lockdown due to the coronavirus since March 23.
Residents of several villages of the municipality blocked the road connecting Marneuli and the village of Shulaveri earlier today, demanding the lifting of restrictions on selling agricultural products.
Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities are two of the main producers of agricultural products in Georgia.
The opposition has dismissed the allegations, stating that they do not know who stood behind the rally.
It is a crime and they (the opposition) are playing with fire,” ruling party MP Irakli Kobakhidze said.
A member of the European Georgia opposition party Akhmed Imamkuliev and a member of the United National Movement opposition Azer Suleimanov were present at the rally, where people were shouting ‘Misha, Misha!’ (ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili).
The opposition has dismissed allegations. Photo: 1TV.
They said that the Georgian Dream government has taken no genuine steps to help the people who are dependent on the sale of agricultural products.
Kvemo Kartli governor Shota Rekhviashvili came to the rally, having had a verbal dispute with Imamkuliev.
Rekhviashvili said that one of the largest distribution companies takes agricultural products out from the municipalities for sale in Tbilisi.
He stated that since many people are no longer in Tbilisi and temporarily moved to the regions due to the coronavirus, there is no high demand in the capital for the products.
He said that negotiations are in progress for the agricultural products from the municipalities to be distributed in the regions.
Rekhvishvili said that the distribution system is not perfect due to the current situation in the country, but said that the government has done its utmost and will do its best to distribute more products from the municipalities.
Marneuli and Bolnisi municipalities in eastern Georgia have been placed under lockdown after a local, 62-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday after coming into contact with more than 80 people and spending four days in a local hospital. The two municipalities have more than 158,000 people total.How the woman contracted the virus is as of yet unknown. Her health condition is critical.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres praised the steps taken by the Georgian government in the fight against the coronavirus during a phone conversation yesterday.
A fifth person has died of COVID-19 in Georgia earlier today. The 68-year-old man from Bolnisi municipality, with several underlying illnesses, was undergoing treatment in the First University Clinic of Tbilisi.
Georgia has reported three new cases of the coronavirus earlier today, bringing the total number of cases to 411. 98 of the 411 people have recovered, while four others have died. As of today 307 individuals inside the country remain infected with the coronavirus. 5,160 people are under quarantine and 579 others in hospitals.
Locals in Marneuli municipality, which has been put on lockdown for about a month due to the coronavirus, continued to rally in the village of Agmamedlo earlier today, demanding ‘active support’ from the government to sell their agricultural products.
The cities of Batumi and Kutaisi, which were put on lockdown on April 15 to contain the spread of COVID-19, will reopen tomorrow, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated earlier today. Tbilisi and Rustavi will remain on lockdown for some time, Gakharia said, adding that the restrictions may be lifted by the end of the week. Lifting the restrictions for Batumi and Kutaisi means that vehicles will be allowed to leave or enter the cities. However, the nationwide curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. remains in force.