Tbilisi Mayor announces rehabilitation of 9 April Street, frequent protest site near Parliament

Tbilisi Mayor and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Kakha Kaladze, announced on Thursday the rehabilitation of 9 April Street in central Tbilisi, near the country’s parliament building. This area is commonly used for anti-Government protests.

Kaladze outlined that the project will involve replacing underground communications from Rustaveli Avenue to Pavle Ingorokva Street, installing underground cable channels, upgrading the lighting, and repairing the sidewalks. During the rehabilitation, traffic on 9 April Street will be completely restricted. Additionally, parking will be prohibited on Chichinadze Street to allow for two-way traffic, and on Chitadze Street, cars will only be able to move towards Chonkadze Street. Kaladze expected the works to be completed by July.

On April 3, the Georgian Dream party’s second initiation of the foreign influence transparency law sparked protests in Tbilisi and other cities. Protesters, chanting “No to the Russian law!” and “Yes to Europe!” frequently gathered at the side entrance of the Parliament on 9 April Street. Despite the President’s veto, the legislation was adopted after the final signature of the parliament speaker.