PM Gakharia in self-isolation after aide tests positive for coronavirus
The ruling Georgian Dream party received over 48% of votes in yesterday’s parliamentary elections, followed by the United National Movement with 27%. Photo: Giorgi Gakharia's Facebook page
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia wrote on his Facebook today that he has gone into self-isolation after one of his aides tested positive for coronavirus.
PM Gakharia, who continues to work remotely, thanked international observers ‘for their commitment to Georgia’s democracy’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgia has managed to hold free, open and competitive elections even under these difficult circumstances”, he said adding that certain gaps that need to be addressed, serve to bringing Georgia closer to Europe.
- Int'l observers: parliamentary elections were competitive, fundamental freedoms were respected
- US Embassy welcomes ‘competitive’ Georgian elections, laments ‘deficiencies’
Gakharia also thanked the voters for active participation in voting, as well as the ruling party supporters who ‘encourage us to keep on going’. ’
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani expressed gratitude to the country's international partners for sending their observers for the parliamentary elections held on Saturday and pointed out their support for "further consolidation of democracy in Georgia".
The United States Embassy in Georgia has welcomed the recent "competitive" parliamentary elections in the country and applauded citizens for their turnout against the backdrop of the pandemic, while also pointing out "deficiencies" in the process that require resolution by the authorities.
Georgia has held peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections, says Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.
Unanimous in their demands for repeat elections, the parties which have overcame the mandatory 1% threshold, including the United National Movement, Euroepan Georgia, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Lelo for Georgia, Labour Party and Girchi, accuse the CEC of falsifying elections on behalf of the ruling party.
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has gone into self-isolation, announces the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
A total of 1,844 senior medical students from various universities have already undergone a one-week training course in order to help Georgian epidemiologists in the fight against the coronavirus.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has tested positive for coronavirus. The prime minister’s press office says Gakharia feels well and will stay home to fight the disease. The news follows his announcement yesterday via Facebook that he had gone into self-isolation after one of his security guards tested positive for coronavirus the day before.
Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State Cale Brown has tweeted that ‘we share OSCE’s assessments’ that Georgian parliamentary elections ‘competitive and fundamental freedoms were respected.’ Most of the Georgian opposition parties claim that the elections were fabricated and have plans to take to the streets on November 8 and demand repeat elections. The ruling Georgian Dream party says that the opposition has failed to accept the election results in a dignified manner.
Wearing face masks in open public areas will become mandatory around the country starting tomorrow to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, Vice Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili stated earlier today. If one refuses to wear a face mask in open areas, individuals will be fined 20 GEL. Wearing a face mask was mandatory only in closed public areas up until now. Tskitishvili also said that restaurants around the country will work until 22:00.