Traffic, gatherings and properties may be restricted until July 15th
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, May 25
The Parliament of Georgia has approved the draft law with 81 votes, which envisages imposing restrictions without declaring a state of emergency in the country. The adopted law enters into force as soon as it is published and will be repealed after July 15th.
The opposition, nor European Georgia, nor the National Movement took part in the voting. After yesterday’s noisy discussion, minor changes were made to the bill. According to the new version, the rule of isolation and/or quarantine is established by the Government of Georgia or the Ministry determined by the Government of Georgia. Quarantine measures may also be determined in accordance with the rules established by the government.
In addition, the law stipulates that the restriction of these rights must be directed at the achievement of the good protected by the Constitution of Georgia, provided by law, necessary for a democratic society, non-discriminatory, proportionately restrictive and such that the good protected by the restriction exceeds the damage.
However, under the new law, if a person is placed in solitary confinement or quarantined, he or she must be given a clear explanation of what is the reason for his or her transfer, that he or she has the right to notify the lawyer of the transfer. The minor's isolation or quarantine must be reported to his or her parent or other legal representative at the earliest opportunity.
From May 23rd, the state of emergency was officially lifted. With this, several restrictions have been removed, including the restriction on more than three people traveling by car has been removed (with the exception of travel by taxi), the curfew has been lifted.
All types of economic activities are permitted, with the following exceptions: serving customers on site in restaurants, bars, cafes, and dining facilities of any type; trade in clothing and footwear (such trade is permitted online); the operation of trade centers (shopping malls) and open-air markets (with the exception of open-air agrarian markets); organizing and/or holding sporting, cultural, and recreational events; sports and wellness procedures or activities; the operation of currency exchange booths.
The Prime Minister's Speaker discussed restrictions lifted and kept after May 23rd. According to him, along with the state of emergency, the ban on assembly and manifestation, as defined in the Law on Assembly and Manifestation, is also terminated. According to Irakli Chikovani, only medical product export remains restricted in the country, meaning products essential to the fight against COVID-19.
“The Interagency Coordination Council will continue working round the clock, and so will its subordinate operations command centers and the umbrella governmental hotline 144,” the Prime Minister's Speaker added.
As of today, there are only 730 reported cases of the Novel coronavirus in Georgia. Out of the people infected, 522 have recovered and 12 have passed away.
