️🛢 Tbilisi is hosting a mass action against the increase in fuel prices
The audience marched from Republic Square along Rustaveli Avenue to the parliament, where they voiced their demands:
📍Abolition of excise taxes on gasoline
📍Transfer of VAT to floating mode
📍Support for small and medium-sized businesses
👆Over the past month, fuel prices in Georgia have increased by 20%
❗️Because of the action, traffic jams were formed on the central streets.

🇬🇪 From today (from 28.03) in Georgia, almost all restrictions that were in effect due to the covid-19 pandemic are lifted:
📍masks in open spaces are no longer needed
📍quantitative and other restrictions are removed when visiting catering facilities, sports and cultural events
📍 self-isolation for Georgian citizens entering the country has been canceled
❗️At the moment, the following rules remain:
📍mandatory wearing of a mask indoors and in transport

🌤 About the weather in Georgia for April
Starting this week, noticeable warming is predicted in all regions. +26-28 degree is expected in Tbilisi next Sunday. Throughout April, the temperature will be around 18-21 heat.

🇬🇪➡️🇪🇺 Today, March 28, marks exactly 5 years since the introduction of the visa-free regime for citizens of Georgia with the EU/Schengen countries.
According to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, 500,000 people made 1.5 million visits to EU countries during this period.

🇬🇪💳 Bank of Georgia abolished the requirement for Russians who want to open an account, to recognize Russia as the occupier that invaded Georgia and Ukraine.
Let me remind you that the bank began to require Russians who want to open accounts to sign a number of documents (including thae document, where a person support the territorial integrity of Georgia) became known on March 4. TBC Bank, which announced on the same day that it would not open accounts for Russians, has also changed its decision at the moment. Citizens of Russia, Belarus and other countries (if they are not under personal sanctions) can open accounts of individuals in the above organizations. You can also apply for Visa and Mastercard cards at Credo bank and Liberty. In addition to the passport, certificates from work, employment contract and other documents can be requested. There are cases of failures that are difficult to systematize.
❗️At the moment, only ProCredit Bank has officially announced that they will not open accounts for individuals with Russian citizenship in Georgia.

🇬🇪 The ruling Georgian Dream party rejected the idea of Secretary of the Security Council of Ukraine Danilov about the military participation of Georgia.
He said that Kiev would be very helped by the opening of other fronts against Russia. In particular, if Moldova and Georgia engaged in the return of their territories occupied by Moscow.
"The secretor of the Security Council of Ukraine or whoever called us, the Georgian authorities do not intend to retreat from the declared peace policy. This was the case before, so it will be in the future," said Irakli Beraya, Chairman of the Defense Committee.
Another deputy, chairman of the parliamentary human rights committee Sarjveladze said that today there can be no justifications for calls for war in Georgia: "one thing can be said for sure: war is not in the interests of Georgia."

📱The operational office of Rakuten Viber, owned by the Japanese technology giant, opens in Tbilisi.
"The Rakuten Viber Tbilisi team, in addition to its own projects, will work on the refinement and development of local software compatible with iOS and Android systems, as well as to improve the quality of the Georgian IT sector," the Ministry of Economy of Georgia said in a statement. In 2014, Rakuten bought the Viber mobile application for $900 million.
❗️Let me remind you that a large IT project "EPAM" has been operating in Georgia since October 2020, which has several hundred employees.

🛍🛒 The Parliament of Georgia adopted a law on consumer protection in the third reading.
A few important points for all buyers:
📍It will be possible to return the product purchased online within 14 days after purchase if it has not been used
📍For offline purchases, a refund can be made within 6 months, but only if there are defects or flaws and without traces of use.

🇷🇺🚫 The Parliament of Georgia proposed to introduce punishment for the use of symbols with the letter "Z".
The initiative to criminalize Russian military symbols - the letter "Z" was taken by the chairman of the "UNM" faction Khatia Dekanoidze.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine made a very important statement today and called on countries friendly to Ukraine to criminalize the so-called symbol of Russian military aggression," the politician said. Parliament is expected to consider the initiative in the near future.
📍Let me remind you that according to Georgian laws, the use of Soviet symbols has been prohibited since 2011.

📈 The National Bank of Georgia decided to raise the refinancing rate by 0.5%, as a result, the monetary policy rate is 11%.
According to the NBG, the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine and the rise in energy prices are a new shock to the Georgian economy, which led to an increase in inflation expectations. Against the background of rising oil prices, fuel prices are expected to jump, which will lead to an increase in prices for all goods in the country. Against the background of growing risks, there is a noticeable decrease in the inflow of external funds.
❗️Let me remind you that the inflation rate in 2021 was a record 13.9% and will remain high throughout 2022.

🇬🇪🇺🇦 145 pairs of children's shoes were exhibited at the Parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi.
In memory of the children who died as a result of the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for 35 days. That's how many, 145 innocent children, died during this time in Ukraine from the hands of the Russian military.
Photo by Mzia Saganelidze

🇬🇪🇺🇦 Georgian singers covered the Ukrainian song "Ой, у лузі червона калина" (Oh, there's a red viburnum in the meadow)
Performance took place during a charity concert, all funds from which went to support the Ukrainian people.

🇬🇪🇷🇺 Can Russia be in 40 kilometers from Tbilisi?
"South Ossetia will soon take legal steps to join the Russian Federation," said Anatoly Bibilov, President of the self-proclaimed republic.
"The referendum on the accession of South Ossetia to Russia will be held in the near future," said Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic Alan Tadtayev.
❗️Let me remind you that its independence was recognized by only five UN countries (Russia, Syria, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru), and Georgia and the world community consider this territory occupied by the Russian Federation.

🇬🇪🇺🇦 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled the ambassador from Georgia, considering his work not productive enough.
"There are those who work together with everyone to defend the state, and there are those who waste their time and work only to stay in office. There will be no weapons, there will be no sanctions, there will be no restrictions for Russian business - look for another job," the Ukrainian president said during a traditional video message.

🇬🇪🇷🇺 Abkhazia has no plans to become part of Russia.
"Unlike South Ossetia, we have no plans to join Russia, and the issue of independence of the republic is clearly defined in the country's constitution," said the speaker of the Abkhaz parliament Kvarchia and Secretary of the Security Council Shamba.
❗️Let me remind you that yesterday the leadership of partially recognized South Ossetia reported on plans to hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation.

🇬🇪 Today is a memorable date in Georgia: exactly 31 years ago, on March 31, 1991, a referendum on independence was held in the country.
The question was: "Do you agree that the independence of Georgia should be restored in accordance with the law of May 26, 1918?" More than 3 million people took part in the referendum and the decision was made almost unanimously: 98.9% of citizens answered this question positively.

🇬🇪➡️🇷🇺❓Will South Ossetia become part of Russia?
According to the president of the actually self-proclaimed republic Bibilov, the referendum will be held in the near future and South Ossetia may become part of Russia as a separate entity, and then unite with North Ossetia into one region - Alanya. This intention has already been supported by the head of North Ossetia Sergei Menyailo appointed by Putin.
❗️The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, represented by its head David Zalkaliani, has already responded to a statement that "the referendum on accession to Russia will have no legal force."

🇬🇪🛫 Air traffic news in Georgia.
🇦🇿 From June 1, the Azerbaijani airline Buta Airways will operate flights on the Baku-Batumi-Baku route, at intervals twice a week: on Fridays and Sundays.
🇦🇪 From June 16, the airline from the UAE "Air Arabia" will resume flights of Abu Dhabi-Tbilsi. Flights will be operated three times a week. Although, it's cheaper to fly there on Wizz Air from Kutaisi, there are even tickets for 18 GEL (!) One way.

🇬🇪 The confrontation between President Salome Zurabishvili and the ruling Georgian Dream party has intensified.
It began about two weeks ago, when she addressed parliament and accused the government of interfering with its activities. In response, the party said that it would file against the President in the Constitutional Court, saying that Zurabivshili exceeded its powers and did not sign several diplomatic appointments. In response, the President accused the party of lying and said that she had signed all the documents.
❗️Yesterday, on CNN, the president said that "Georgia participates in all international financial sanctions that were imposed on Russia because of the war in Ukraine" and this caused a negative reaction from the government, which previously reported that the country cannot and will not join the sanctions against the Russian Federation.

🏥👩🏼‍⚕️Medical insurance in Georgia.
Medical care in the country for foreigners is provided on a paid basis. Prices, clinics and conditions vary. There are cheaper, where there is not always a guarantee of successful procedures and there are more expensive, but better quality. From the general specialization, I can recommend: American Hospital Tbilisi, Aversi, Curatio Where to go and where to be treated is up for you to choose. In 60-70% of cases, doctors in Georgia are Russian-speaking, as they received medical education in Russian. At the same time, good specialists are passed "from hand to hand" here. Calling an ambulance is free, but all subsequent procedures can be quite expensive.
❗️Where to make insurance is up to you. Each of them has its own packages, conditions and offers. Compensation for visiting doctors or buying medicines ranges from 20 to 80%. See the rates on their websites, call them, choose.
I will highlight the main ones:
📍GPI Holding
📍Aldagi
📍TBC Insurance
📍Ardi (I fear them, because it’s free for some reason 😉)
📍IRAO
📍Unison

💉🚫 Pfizer vaccination in Georgia has been temporarily suspended.
On March 31, the expiration date of 400 thousand doses of imported vaccines expired, and the new batch did not arrive on time. At the moment, vaccination points refuse to vaccinate with the Pfizer vaccine, it is impossible to choose it for an appointment. The NCDC claims that new doses of the vaccine will arrive in the country in a few days, but they do not give an exact date.
❗️In response to my appeal, the Ministry of Health replied that it was working in this direction and vaccinations (including booster) would definitely resume in April. There are "Sinovak" and "Sinopharm" in Georgia and their vaccination continues as usual.