GEL 5000 Raised for Man Fined for Selling Tulips on Palm Sunday

Misha Karaulashvili, 73, was fined GEL 3000 for selling tulips near the church on Palm Sunday. Misha said he decided to sell the flowers as he had no money to buy medicine for a family member in need.

“I went out at half past four and took 70 tulips with me, to earn some money for medicine. I sold just 9 tulips. I begged the police not to fine me, as I have three orphans at home, one of them sick; but they did not take this into account,” said the florist.

After one Georgian citizen launched a campaign on Facebook to raise money for Misha, people started showing enthusiasm to help. GEL 5000 was collected in just two hours.

On the same day, dozens of people gathered in Georgian churches to celebrate Palm Sunday, yet none of them were fined for violating the State of Emergency.

The hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic came at a particularly bad time for Misha. Spring is the busiest time of year for florists, and many fully depend on the revenue they generate. 

Georgia was recently shook by the similar story of a 63-year-old florist from Kakheti region of Georgia, Kako Jeiranashvili, who lost around GEL 2000 as the lifeblood of the flower industry dried up amid the coronavirus pandemic. Georgian citizens were quick to collect GEL 5000 for Kako.

By Elene Dzebisashvili