🇷🇺🚫 The opposition party "For Georgia" (6 seats in Parliament) proposes to reduce the period of visa-free stay in the country for Russians.

What does it mean? Nothing. Earlier, other deputies and even President Zurabishvili came up with a similar initiative, but no real steps were taken to adopt such documents.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has an overwhelming number of deputies, has repeatedly expressed that it sees no reason to revise the deadlines or introduce visas.

🇬🇪🚧⛔️🇷🇺 The land Georgian-Russian border through Upper Lars is closed to all types of transport.

Due to the deterioration of weather conditions and the impossibility of ensuring the safe passage of vehicles, as well as taking into account the recommendations of the border police, the movement of all types of vehicles across the border is prohibited.

🇬🇪📊 National Democratic Institute (NDI) survey results: the report is produced in Georgia on a quarterly basis and covers various areas of life.

I have collected all the most important and interesting things for you:
📍81% support the country's accession to the European Union
📍73% consider it important and necessary to join NATO
📍48% answered that the economy is in a bad state
📍51% support the activities of the Government, 39% rate it as bad
📍34% do not feel safe
📍20% want to leave the country
📍20% unemployed
📍39% answered that none of the parties represents their interests, 25% would vote for the ruling Georgian Dream, 6% for the opposition United National Movement, 13% for other parties, 10% refused to answer, 7% Don't know
📍69% support the introduction of visas for Russians, 21% believe that it is not necessary to introduce visas
📍69% negatively assess the migration of citizens of the Russian Federation, 17% consider it positive
📍80% have a negative attitude towards the government of the Russian Federation, while 56% have a positive attitude towards ordinary Russian citizens
ℹ️ The study was conducted from December 3 to December 20, 2022 using the method of 2519 personal interviews, the statistical error is +/- 1.6%

🇬🇪➡️🇪🇺 The European Commission has released its reports on bringing Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine into line with EU law.

This analytical paper complements the opinions of the European Commission published in June 2022, which covered only some key areas of cooperation, and provides an assessment of the readiness of each of the three countries to join the EU. The reports were compiled on the basis of responses to EU questionnaires and information obtained during the meetings. The document uses four readiness levels for such indicators as: public procurement, freedom of speech, movement of goods, financial services, corporate law , social policy, science and research, environment, agriculture, etc.
✔️ Early stage: Georgia is evaluated in 6 indicators; Moldova at 12; Ukraine at 8.
✔️ A certain level of training: Georgia in 16 indicators, Moldova in 17, and Ukraine in 14.
✔️ Moderately prepared: Georgia is evaluated in 9 indicators, Moldova in 2, and Ukraine in 5.
✔️ Good level: Ukraine is evaluated in 4 indicators, Georgia and Moldova do not have a “good level” mark.
❗️Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has already commented on the results of the document: "The report of the European Commission clearly demonstrates that Georgia is worthy of being granted the status of a EU candidate"

🚕 Drivers of taxi service "Bolt" will hold protest in Tbilisi on February 5.

They will gather University Street and will demand better working conditions and an increase in the amount of payments. The company, which recently lowered its rates, kept a high (23.6%) percentage of the commission for drivers, so that it became unprofitable for them to work. According to them, when Bolt first entered the Georgian market, the commission was only 10%. The organization only notified them of the changes by email.
"They treat us like slaves and ignore our problems," the 260 drivers who signed the appeal said.
❗️If their demands are ignored, they do not rule out a general strike.

🇬🇪❤️ Mestia has been named one of the best tourist destinations by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The organization dedicated an article to the region, calling it the cleanest and most environmentally friendly tourist region in Georgia. The material says that here you can enjoy extraordinary landscapes, rich forests and alpine zones. Mestia, with its charming nature and rich history, has wonderful monuments of Georgian architecture and ethnography, including churches, monasteries and traditional towers.

🏊‍♂️ Henry Kuprashvili, 76yo, won 6 gold and 1 silver medal at the World Winter Swimming Championships.

At the tournament, which was held in Slovenia, in the 75+ age category, he was almost unbeatable. However, Kuprashvili is known not only for this. Last year, the athlete broke a Guinness record by swimming across the Dardanelles with his hands and feet tied, in the traditional Colchian style of swimming. The man covered 12 kilometers in three hours and 15 minutes. Particularly stands out, as you noticed, the style of swimming. The Colchian-Iberian or Georgian swimming style, in which the movement of the human limbs is not used, is considered rather uncommon. Swimming is carried out by dolphin-like movements of the pelvis and legs tightly pressed to each other. The pelvis is especially actively involved, the legs are also active helpers, especially in terms of maintaining balance, and the arms do not participate in movement at all.