The United National Movement (UNM) opposition mayoral candidate in Poti, Gigi Ugulava, who tested positive for coronavirus on October 7, will be fined for violation of self-isolation rules as he attended the UNM rally in central Tbilisi yesterday and addressed the public. 

Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated earlier today that Ugulava ‘will be definitely fined.’ 

According to Georgian Covid regulations, an individual is allowed to go to the public after 10 days from the confirmation of the virus. 

Ugulava says that he acted in line with the US regulations ‘which allows fully vaccinated individuals to go to the public after 7-8 days from contracting the virus.’ 

However, Ugulava had been vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, which the US does not recognise, and the US obliges vaccinated individuals to wear a facemask in open areas for 10 days after the covid test shows negative from contracting the virus. 

Ugulava, who will participate in Poti mayoral runoff on October 30, has not stated whether he will pay the 2,000 GEL fine. 

Ugulava previously, under the UNM, served as Tbilisi mayor and had to spend several years in prison under the Georgian Dream leadership for embezzlement.