Kutaisi townspeople demand to ease quarantine restrictions

Protesters in Kutaisi have demanded to resume the work of public transport, and reopen marketplaces and shopping centres. People cannot afford to get to workplaces by taxi; and workers in marketplaces and shops are left without livelihood, they have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that protesters in Tbilisi claimed economic difficulties due to coronavirus restrictions. In analysts' opinion, authorities continue using the quarantine for political purposes, although the Georgian economy has lost about 20 percent during the pandemic.

Workers of marketplaces and shopping centres are doomed by the state to starvation, protesters have claimed.

"Most workers can't go to work every day. They can't afford paying for taxi twice a day. Another demand is to open marketplaces. The people working there are now unemployed," a female protester has stated.

Georgian authorities plan to restart public transport in all large cities from February 1, with the exception of Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi, the "News-Georgia" has reported. Also, starting from this day, it is planned to reopen shops and shopping centres on weekdays, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports.

"Any reopening should be phased and careful. If we increase mobility, we must compensate it by certain restrictions," Maya Tskitishvili, Vice-Premier of Georgia, said on air of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.