Georgia: event industry workers demand to soften self-isolation regime

Animators, musicians, photographers and videographers came out in Tbilisi to protest and demand from the authorities to allow holding weddings and celebrations. The self-isolation regime led to a loss of their earnings, protesters have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that entrepreneurs doubted the success of tourist season in Georgia due to the low inflow of foreign tourists. Hostel owners have treated their work under the pandemic as burdensome.

On June 19, about 100 protesters gathered outside the Georgian Parliament and stated that the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus deprived them of their earnings.

"We had the only income – making photographs at mass events. Today, there is no such income," said Giorgi Chokheli, one of the organizers of the action.

Nino Natashvili, a photographer, agreed with him. "I work in a children's centre, and now I am without a job. I have two young children," she said.

Indigo, another photographer, believes the ban on weddings is unfair. "This ban is not justified in any way. People gather in large groups in restaurants, and we remain without earnings," she said.