Public Defender says UNM Batumi rally was ‘completely irresponsible’
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Public Defender Nino Lomjaria said the large scale rally organised by the opposition United National Movement in Batumi yesterday was ‘completely irresponsible’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The public defender stated yesterday that thousands of people should not be allowed to gather without wearing face masks and violate social distancing rules. She also claimed that it is the obligation of the state to protect the lives of its citizens and ensure that the safety regulations are maintained.
Lomjaria further said that 'democratic countries' have postponed elections earlier this year amid the coronavirus-related restrictions and the high-risk of spreading the virus on election day.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and other ruling party leaders have meanwhile stated that there are no grounds to postpone parliamentary elections in Georgia. Meanwhile, health officials call on citizens to wear face masks and maintain social distancing to prevent the further spread of the virus.
However, despite the coronavirus-related safety recommendations, the UNM-led Strength in Unity election bloc held an outdoor presentation of its majoritarian candidates and election programme in Batumi yesterday, which has been denounced by the ruling party.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has announced that an individual who has damaged an election poster of the opposition European Georgia party back on October 13, has been given a warning for petty hooliganism.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) says in its interim report that the pre-election environment in Georgia ‘is marked by political and social tensions, and economic challenges’ amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 958 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Georgia over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 214 people have recovered and four have died. As of now, Georgia has confirmed 16,285 cases of COVID-19 since February 26, including 7,827 recoveries and 128 deaths.
The opposition United National Movement – Strength in Unity party held an outdoor presentation of its majoritarian candidates and election programme for the upcoming country-wide parliamentary elections in the Black Sea town of Batumi yesterday.
Marina Endeladze, head of the isolation department of Tbilisi Hospital of Infections Diseases, said the situation is now ‘alarming’. Endeladze called on everyone to abide by the coronavirus-related regulations.
Opposition Lelo for Georgia party leader Mamuka Khazaradze has tested positive for coronavirus. However, the politician says he feels fine and is in self-isolation.
The opposition United National Movement majoritarian candidate for Isani constituency Khatia Dekanoidze has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of attempting to instal audio surveillance equipment in her election headquarters last night.
Georgia has reported 1,186 new cases of coronavirus and seven deaths in the past 24 hours. Tbilisi is on the top of the list of the most hard-hit areas with 469 cases, followed by the country’s coastal Adjara region with 360 cases. Georgian hospitals are able to admit an additional 972 patients as of today. Georgia has had 18,663 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020.Since then 8,338 patients have recovered, while 143 have died. As of today 10,182 patients remain infected with Covid-19 in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that Georgian opposition parties, ‘who have zero chance of winning the October 31 parliamentary elections, are trying to make people panic about the coronavirus situation in the country.
Two individuals have been arrested for damaging the United National Movement opposition party office in Gori.
Officers of Gori Police Division have detained a fourth individual in connection with the case of damaging the office of the United National Movement opposition party in eastern city of Gori.