Prepared by Messenger Staff
Heavy Snowstorm Strands Villages in Western Georgia, Response Criticized
Since February 20, heavy snowfall has isolated several villages in the high mountains of western Georgia, particularly in the Guria region, leaving them without gas, electricity, and water. Despite severe weather warnings issued on February 21, the government failed to mobilize emergency assistance until February 25, when the army was deployed to manage the crisis. Local officials have been working to help those cut off, but conditions remain dire.
The snow, which has reached over two meters in some areas, has caused roofs to collapse and blocked roads with fallen trees, preventing emergency vehicles from reaching affected villages. Social media has been flooded with pleas for help, as some residents, including the elderly, have been left without basic necessities. Two deaths have been reported: a man in Konchkati village and a woman in Japareuli, Guria, who died due to diabetic shock when she couldn't access insulin.
The botched response has sparked outrage. Many Georgians, including political figures, have criticized the government's inaction, with accusations that the government is more focused on repression than citizen welfare. Opposition leaders, including Mamuka Khazaradze, have called for a change in leadership, citing the government's failure to manage the disaster zone.
In defense, Georgian Dream officials, including Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Parliamentary Majority Leader Mamuka Mdinaradze, claim that the state is fully mobilized, working beyond its capacity to clear roads and provide supplies to affected citizens. However, critics remain unconvinced, accusing the government of neglecting its duty to ensure public safety.
Georgian Dream Proposes Amendments to Broadcasting Law
On February 24, the Georgian Dream (GD) proposed two amendments to the Law on Broadcasting: one banning foreign funding of audio-visual broadcasters, and the other limiting self-regulation by granting the Communications Commission (ComCom) extensive powers to control broadcasting content.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, a GD leader, stated that the amendments would follow a "British model." The changes will be discussed at a normal pace in parliament, and the one-party majority is expected to pass the amendments in the coming months.
The amendments, authored by several GD and People's Power MPs, aim to reduce foreign influence on public opinion by prohibiting broadcasters from receiving foreign funding. The restrictions would exclude commercial advertising, sponsorship, and product placements but would extend to forbidding foreign entities from funding broadcasts or purchasing services from broadcasters. "Foreign entities" are defined as foreign governments, non-Georgian citizens, or organizations based outside of Georgia.
