(Read full article on civil.ge)

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the chair of Government’s Inter-Agency Coordination Council tasked with handling COVID-19 in Georgia, has vowed “not to allow” mandatory vaccination against COVID-19.

Responding to reporters on October 24 during pre-election campaign trip to eastern Telavi town, the Prime Minister said Georgian citizens should enjoy “the right and an opportunity of free choice.” 

“I did my best to bring more than enough – millions of – vaccines… We brought all different kinds of vaccines in Georgia,” PM Garibashvili went on, adding that “we have to convince people, not force them.”

Assessing the declining vaccination rate in the country as “sad,” the Prime Minister asserted that strong anti-vaxxer campaigns are also present in both Europe and U.S. “In reality, this is disinformation… We should trust scientists.”