Tbilisi Drivers to Protest High Petrol Prices
On July 30, hundreds of drivers in Tbilisi plan to hold a protest rally against the high petrol prices.
The protest will take place on Heroes Square with participants to stop their cars there for some time in protest, blocking the flow of traffic.
The protesters have also started a petition, which demands a reduction of petrol prices by decreasing the fuel excise.
“The Georgian government’s increased excise tax on fuel has to be abolished. Before the tax was increased, it amounted to 250 GEL per ton of fuel. From January 1, 2017, the tax was doubled and is now 500 GEL per ton of gasoline. With diesel, the price exceeded the doubling mark and went up to 400 GEL, which was 150 Lari per ton,” the petition reads.
It also says that in the case of petrol, the excise tax per liter is 0.5 GEL up from the previous 0.25 GEL and for diesel, the excise per 1 liter is now 0.4 GEL instead of the previous 0.15 GEL.
“We call on the Georgian Government and Parliament to reduce the excise price on fuel to the 2017 indicator because the doubled and tripled tax has negatively affected the population of Georgia,” the petition reads.
A group of drivers have already held two protest rallies in the capital, demanding a lower price on fuel. One such rally was held on July 22, the slogan of which was Let Us Change the Fuel Price.
“We call on the government to regulate and monitor the fuel prices as they are artificially increased by big fuel importers, including SOCAR,” one of the drivers said.
The opposition claims the government has a deal with big gas and oil companies, and notes that if the state does not take steps to solve the problem, society will take to permanent protests.
“I would like to address the oil importers and the state to do everything in their power to bring the fuel price back to something normal. If not, they will see a reaction from Georgian society,” Zurab Melikishvili, member of the United National Movement, stated.
Chairman of the Union of Oil Products Importers, Ivane Mtvralashvili, says it would be a fair decision to have the fuel excise reduced to the early 2017 level, but he doubts this will happen.
As he explains, the increase in fuel prices is due to increased prices on the global market.
"This process has affected all countries that depend on fuel import, including Turkey, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine and some states of the European Union,” he explained.
Mtvralashvili says he understands why users are protesting, noting that fuel prices in the country are at a “record high.”
The Chairman of the Union of Oil Products Importers also noted that the increase in fuel prices had also led to the increase in the prices of other products.
By Thea Morrison