Ombudswoman urges opposition to ensure strict observance of rules, coronavirus restrictions during protests

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has urged opposition parties to ensure strict observance of all recommendations, rules and restrictions during their election protests imposed to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. 

Opposition parties have taken to the street following the October 31 parliamentary elections. 

They say that the elections were rigged and are demanding repeat elections. 

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Lomjaria says that daily cases of coronavirus are surging in Georgia and hospitals are already overloaded.

We have been talking about the acute challenges in the Georgian health care system for years. Along with infrastructural problems, the country has always had the problem of lack of qualified medical personnel, which may become a serious barrier in the current crisis management process, especially given the frequent and increasing cases of infection of medical personnel,” Lomjaria said. 

Lomjaria urged the government to ensure effective implementation of all preventive measures in order to slow the rate of the Covid-19 infection in the country.

Opposition parties say that they will take to the street anyway. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

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She also appealed to the country’s Central Election Commission to consider complaints relating to the results of the elections and recount the results of the disputed polling stations in a timely manner, under fair and transparent procedures, ‘which will significantly reduce the ongoing tense protests outside the election administrations and the mobility of the population’.

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Lomjaria urged the public to act in line with coronavirus recommendations. 

Opposition parties have plans to hold a large rally on November 8. 

They say that if the government imposes restrictions for the date, they will not obey them.