PM: Political Activities in the Streets Will Accelerate Peak of the Pandemic

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the post-election political processes and ongoing opposition protests in the country, noting that such mass demonstrations in the streets will accelerate the process of reaching the peak of the pandemic. 

"We are entering a new phase, today we already have more than 2400 new cases of coronavirus infection. Given the ongoing political processes in the streets and the dynamics of the spread of the virus in Europe, it seems that growth will continue, this is a fact and we must be ready for it," he said at a meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of maximum mobilization of all relevant agencies to take the necessary measures, including in terms of targeted restrictions to become more effective.

"Of course, we do not change the strategy of adaptation, but in parallel with the adaptation, we have to think about what might be a package of targeted restrictions that would be even more effective. We are not considering systemic restrictions across the country, but targeted restrictions", the PM said.

Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of the opposition "Lelo for Georgia" party, has responded to the above statement made by the Prime Minister, claiming that the government might try to prevent the opposition parties from holding rallies by imposing various restrictions, and if so, they will not obey. 

"If the restriction is specifically designed to prevent the demonstration from taking place, the opposition will not obey it, because it means that it was made specifically so that people would not protest," said Japaridze. 

For the record, opposition parties and supporters plan a mass protest rally outside the Parliament in Tbilisi on November 8 to express their distrust in election results and demand its annulment.

Georgia reported 2401 new cases, 2289 recoveries and 20 Deaths today. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

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