Georgian gov't decides not to open nightclubs due to rising Omicron coronavirus cases

Gibradze noted today that the threat of the virus spreading in the country is ‘obviously high,’ thus the council has decided to keep nightclubs closed, adding that if events in nightclubs are still held, the Labour Inspection will respond to it. Photo: Khidi club/Facebook.

Agenda.ge, 22 Dec 2021 - 14:45, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Interagency Coordination Council has decided not to open nightclubs across the country due to rising cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Chief of Operational Staff of the council, Giorgi Gibradze, reported earlier today. 

The Labour Inspection Service of Georgia, in response to the information announced earlier that nightclubs in Georgia open on December 17, stated several days ago that holding events in the facilities is not allowed, as the Coordination Council had not made a decision.

Gibradze noted today that the threat of the virus spreading in the country is ‘obviously high,’ thus the council has decided to keep nightclubs closed, adding that if events in nightclubs are still held, the Labour Inspection will respond to it.

There is a law in Georgia before which we are all equal. The law says that it is forbidden to hold these events, I do not understand the logic of them holding the events anyway," Gibradze said. 

Co-founder of underground club Bassiani in Tbilisi, Naja Orashvili, announced the opening of clubs on December 17 in a Facebook post published on December 7.

She stated that the Georgian government supported the idea of ‘safe events’ initiated by the Electronic Music and Club Culture Recovery Fund and the Cultural and Creative Industries Union of Georgia (Act4culture) and noted that ‘at this stage, technical issues are being clarified in order for electronic music spaces to gain green status.’

The platform Act4culture was created in April of 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. It aims to ' influence state and legislative decisions through advocacy and to help the sector overcome the existing challenges.’

Tbilisi City Hall allocated two million GEL for about 500 artists in the electronic and club music industry in March of this year in order to overcome the effects of the pandemic.

Nightclubs in Georgia have been closed for almost two years.