Tbilisi Mayor announces new design of Parliament area
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, July 20
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has released photos of the render, showing images of the parliament area.
According to Kaladze, the fountain is being rehabilitated and the tiles. According to him, the historical tiles related to the events of April 9th have been stored and will be returned to the site once repaired.
The front space of the parliament is the main center of protests and rallies. In 2019, anti-government and anti-occupation rallies were actively held there for almost half a year. At the end of the year, on December 31st the City Hall dismantled the protest tent of the father of the murdered child, Malkhaz Machalikashvili, and set up New Year's attractions, then did not allow it to be opened, and began fencing and rehabilitation.
There are protest signs made by activists on the green fence erected around the rehabilitation works. “Shame,” “Bidzina's vegetable garden,” “Stand up” and other phrases were written on it after the City Hall took over Malkhaz Machalikashvili's tent.
Civil activist Nodar Rukhadze accuses Tbilisi mayor of violating the law. According to him, the law calls on the Mayor to ask the public before starting such huge rehabilitations. According to him, it is still unknown who worked on or who approved the project. Rukhadze also noted that the activists believe this happened to prevent them from protesting.
The area around the parliament building was fenced by the City Hall with a green fence in January 2020. Activists immediately claimed the aim was to limit space to protest. Before the fencing, despite the resistance, the City Hall forcefully removed Malkhaz Machalikashvili's tent from this area and set up attractions. The mayor of Tbilisi said at the time that the mayor's office was starting rehabilitation works.
Malkhaz Machalikashvili has been protesting in the area for a long time now. He says that the case of the death of his son is still unresolved and there are many unanswered questions.
