UNM opposition slams parking fines and policy in capital Tbilisi

An opposition representative in Georgia has criticised parking policies and fines in the capital, Tbilisi, claiming they place a heavy burden on citizens.

Vaso Urushadze, anti-corruption secretary of the United National Movement, said that around 1,100 people are fined 50 lari each day in Tbilisi. He claimed this amounted to roughly 400,000 individuals annually and generated about 20 million lari for the Tbilisi Transport Company.

Urushadze alleged that the funds were not spent for their intended purposes.

He also drew comparisons with 2017, when parking in the capital was managed by City Park. According to Urushadze, there were around 32,000 parking spaces at that time, compared with approximately 27,000 under the management of Tbilisi City Hall.

The opposition figure criticised what he described as rising costs and fines, which he said disproportionately affected drivers. He also accused the city’s mayor, Kakha Kaladze, of failing to deliver on infrastructure promises, including a proposed bridge intended to ease congestion on Marshal Gelovani Avenue, as well as metro rehabilitation projects.