Activists in Georgia fined after distributing medical masks

The distribution of free medical masks, disinfectants and gloves held by the organization "New Leaders" brought together over a hundred residents of Zugdidi, which entailed a fine imposed on the organizers thereof. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia has reached 79.

The police have fined the activists for violating the state of emergency introduced in the country because of coronavirus. In Georgia, it is forbidden to gather more than 10 people, while the action gathered more than 100 of them.

The above supplies for residents of Zugdidi were purchased for the money of Georgians living in America, Mikhail Saakashvili said on air of the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV Channel. "I offered to hand the supplies over to the government of Georgia, but no one answered me. Therefore, our activists themselves began spreading them in Georgia," he has stated.

Giorgi Shengeliya, the Tbilisi Mayor, has treated the activists' actions as "provocation."

In her turn, Ekaterina Tikaradze, the Minister of Public Health, said that such actions are an attempt to gain political dividends from to the global problem.

Paata Imnadze, a deputy director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, has agreed with the Minister, adding that "now it's not the time for PR actions, when there is a threat of coronavirus."