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longer be mandatory starting from June 23.
Restrictions will remain on restaurants, bars, and other food and entertainment facilities, which will be allowed to operate only until 00:00 after the curfew is cancelled. Face masks also remain obligatory in indoor public places, public transport, and bus stops.
National Center for Disease Control chief Amiran Gamkrelidze said the COVID-19 epidemiological situation has “slowly” begun to improve in Georgia following a third-wave peak in May. But the senior health official appealed to the public to be cautious. “Even though [wearing a] face mask will not be mandatory in outdoor spaces, it is still recommended,” Gamkrelidze stressed.
2.5 European Council president says EU aid to Georgia conditional on court reform
The EU's financial aid flow to Georgia is conditional upon judicial reform, European Council President Charles Michel stated on July 19 following meetings with Georgian leaders in Batumi.
The EU recently threatened to cancel part or all of its upcoming funding to Georgia following last week's appointment of new Supreme Court judges, in breach of a political deal negotiated in January.
Michel said in his press remarks after holding meetings with the Georgian president, PM and opposition leaders in Batumi, that the “fast-track” appointment of six Supreme Court justices “did not reflect the results of consultations with international and domestic stakeholders” and “was clearly a missed opportunity.”
“Determined progress in consolidating the rule of law through political and judicial reforms is of particular importance,” stressed Michel. He recalled that the judicial reform is a condition for the disbursement of the EU’s macro-financial aid to Georgia.
Michel said that his “single most important” message to all political parties is that full implementation of the April 19 deal is the “best guarantee to advance Georgia’s democratic agenda, in the interest of the country’s citizens.”
Referring to the July 5-6 developments, homophobic violence and attacks on journalists, Michel underscored that fundamental rights and freedoms play a central role in EU- Georgia relations.
“Rights of minorities are not a marginal issue, respect for diversity and human dignity are essential to our fundamental values and the constitutional rights to freedom of press and to freedom of expression must be upheld.”
Michel added that he was “pleased” that all signatories of the deal were committed to its full implementation, and called on “those who have not yet signed to do so.” The United National Movement-led Strength in Unity bloc is the largest opposition group to have not yet signed the deal.
10 GEORGIA Country Report August 2021 www.intellinews.com