Issue no: 1235
• MARCH 13 - 16, 2020 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY
In this week’s issue...
FOCUS
Coronavirus Updates: Georgia & the World
ON A GLOBAL PANDEMIC A look at measures being taken home and abroad to stop the spread
PRICE: GEL 2.50
NEWS PAGE 2
Georgian Government's Statement on Current Situation Regarding Coronavirus
PAGE 2
NEWS PAGE 2
The Last Tsar of Russia POLITICS PAGE 4
What Do the Amendments to the Georgian Election Code Imply? POLITICS PAGE 5
Image source: tuoitrenews.vn
GD & Opposition Agreement Named Important Step to Democracy by Major Intl' Allies BY ANA DUMBADZE
BUSINESS PAGE 7
How to Organize Events Without Producing So Much Waste? CENN/USAID Recommendations
F
acilitators of the dialogue between Georgia’s political parties released a statement on the agreement achieved between the opposition and the government on Sunday March 8. “We congratulate the participants of the political dialogue on [Sunday’s] successful agreement, which represents a crucial step towards the depolarization and normalization of the political environment in Georgia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections later this year. "Today’s agreement foresees an election system for 2020 based on 120 proportional mandates and 30 majoritarian mandates, a fair composition of election districts, a 1% threshold, and a cap recognizing that no single party that wins less than 40% of the votes should be able to get its own majority in the next parliament. "The agreement is accompanied by a joint statement among the sides outlining the agreement and recognizing the wider objective of holding free and fair elections, including the necessity of addressing actions that could be perceived as an inappropriate politicization of
Study: Men Advance Career Easier than Woman in Georgian Public Sector
BUSINESS PAGE 8
R.O x Konoba to Play Georgia Again CULTURE PAGE 11
Georgia’s judicial and electoral processes and of avoiding any such actions in the future. "We recognize today’s agreement as a steppingstone on Georgia’s democratic path. We call on all sides to adhere to it and to safeguard its successful adoption in Parliament and subsequent implementation, for the benefit of the people
and country of Georgia,” reads the statement. After four rounds of talks and negotiations that ended without results, representatives of the Georgian government and opposition on March 8 reached the agreement on the electoral model. Continued on page 7
Georgia-Russia Rugby Match to be Held in Empty Stadium amid Coronavirus Risk SPORTS PAGE 11