FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 The Messenger P3 “Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #069 (4626) MessengerFRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Politics #stayhome Stay home, Stay safe #staysafe Is Plaquenil an effective cure for the virus? Protest rally held in Marneuli Two of the infected people revealed that they’ve been violating all recommendations using Plaquenil for their treatment, and the reaction to this statement was mixed. FULL STORY ON Page 2 Economics Georgian Banks suffer record 747 million in first quarter of 2020 FULL STORY ON Page 3 Culture & Lifestyle David Sarajishvili - Country of Liquid Sun The recommendations for preventing the spread of the Coronavirus were practically not followed during the rally. Photo: 1tv.ge FULL STORY ON Page 4 bilized on the spot. event, according to him politics ‘is not Giga Bokeria, European Georgia MP, Even though protesters were chanting happening here.’ “I said from the very first responded to the rally in Marneuli dur- ‘Misha, Misha,’ the local opposition says second, you don’t want someone’s politi- ing the special session of the parliament, BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI they had no contact with organizing the cal name. Today, we are interested in the noting that the representatives of his rally, they just knew that local farmers people, the harvest and the income of the party are trying to calm the people. He n Marneuli, where strict quarantine had trouble cultivating the land and sell- people,” he explained. urged supporters and others to refrain Ihas been declared for a month now (as ing the crop and learned about the pro- According to Suleymanov, the path from any action that may violate the rule well as in Bolnisi Municipality), the resi- test from the social network. must be opened and the state isn’t help- of law, even ‘if you have grounds for re- dents of 5 villages gathered in the village Imamkuliev denied any wrongdoing or ing the people, who are working on the sentment against this government.’ He of Shulaveri on 22nd of April blocking the participation in the organizing of the land and have bank responsibilities. also addressed other MP’s and gov’t, say- central highway. Carrier trailers were not ing that when the situation is out of con- allowed to move until the end of the as- trol, when people are locked up for weeks sembly. The rally was mainly attended and are not allowed to provide for the fam- by farmers, demanding the sale of agri- ily, it may become impossible to control. cultural products at appropriate prices, Irakli Kobakhidze, a member of the activity that has been the only source of parliamentary majority, called the events income for Marneuli residents in a quar- in Marneuli purposeful. antine zone. According to him, the representatives Along with the blockade of the road, of the branches of the National Movement the residents also threw products at the held a joint rally in Marneuli and he rally, which were harvested, but due to urged Bokeria, to ‘pick up the phone, call the closed municipality, they are going Imamkuliev and Suleymanov and take bad. the people back home,’ instead of mak- The rally was held in several villages ing general statements in parliament. in parallel. The recommendations were Marneuli Mayor Zaur Dargali and practically not followed, most of the pro- Kvemo Kartli Governor Shota testers did not have any masks or other Rekhviashvili arrived on the spot as well. means of protection against the virus. They believe the rally has a political con- The demonstrators were joined by notation. Ahmed Imamkuliev, the head of the The governor of Kvemo Kartli told re- Marneuli office of the European Georgia, porters today that the Marneuli residents and Azer Suleymanov, the leader of the Giga Bokeria announced at the parliament session: “Representatives have no problems and that they took the Marneuli office of the United National of ‘European Georgia’ are in Marneuli and are trying to calm Movement. Law enforcers were also mo- people down.” CONTINUED ON Page 2 P2 Politics The Messenger FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 Is Plaquenil an effective cure for the virus? States and Georgia argue about diarrhea, hair loss, neuromus- how effective this drug is, and cular pain and headache. Ex- the media writes about its side perts say it cannot be used for effects. patients with heart diseases and According to The Georgian may be incompatible with other Protocol, this drug is not used medications for diabetics. for treating people who have no On April 12th, Beka symptoms. Patients whose con- Bakhtadze, an intensive care ditions are severe undergo 5-10 physician/resuscitator at Tan- days of treatment which in- ner Hospital and a cardiologist cludes the use of Plaquenil. at Cleveland Clinic, told TV Because different medical so- Pirveli that a study by the Uni- cieties choose different ways to versity of Michigan found that treat COVID-19 and fight the the condition of 30 patients un- virus indirectly, it remains un- der the effect of Plaquenil was clear if the drug is effective or worse than that of the other 30 not. It is used to alleviate the drugs. complications and symptoms Doctors who use the drug for caused by the virus, but it re- treatment spoke to RFE/RL quires reviews and updating in- about the side effects of the drug. terminably. “Obviously, the drug has side “Plaquenil relieves the expul- effects, so it should be used very sion of the virus. This will not carefully and that is why in the hurt anyone. Rheumatologists process of its use, patients are have been prescribing the drug actively monitored,” said Marina for months and years due to Endeladze on March 24th. simple joint pain,” stated Doctors warn the population Controversy surrounding the drug for allegedly curing the virus. Tsertsvadze. that taking the drug unless pre- However, the aforementioned scribed is dangerous. The call BY ANASTASIA SOKHADZE in March that the drug had been for Infectious Diseases, AIDS and drug has side effects. These in- became necessary after a short- prescribed to the first patient Clinical Immunology, said on clude dizziness, headache, de- age in the market due to people arina Endeladze, head of infected with the Coronavirus. April 7th that the drug was used creased appetite, nausea, vom- buying to protect themselves the Department of Hospi- Tengiz Tsertsvadze, director of in Georgia with all patients. iting, abdominal pain, tinnitus, from the Coronavirus. talM for Infectious Diseases, stated the Scientific-Practical Center The doctors from the United irritability, dermatitis, psoriasis, Protest rally held in Marneuli violating all recommendations CONTINUED FROM Page 1 bilized if needed. At the same caused some dissatisfaction. This time, he noted, up to 22,000 fami- has been used by certain political streets because of the political lies in the region have received forces, which have been clearly orders during the peak of the various types of assistance. By seen here and who have spoken epidemic. He accused locals and the end of the day, the governor not about management, but about opponents of the deal. promised to sell all the crops. elections and political issues. Rekhviashvili called the rally Sozar Subari, Advisor to the According to him, the main inappropriate and untimely. He PM on Regional Affairs, who has speculation was about the price, said the restrictions had had an also made an appearance at the because people said that last effect, but that certain forces rally also commented that cer- year, what they sold for 3-4 in wanted political speculation. tain political forces took advan- the market, say in Tbilisi, According to him, during the tage of the situation. According Kutaisi, now the company that conversation with the popula- to him, since the announcement came here is buying for 1. Plaquenil alleviates the conditions, but does not cure the tion, who want to sell local prod- of the strict quarantine, the However, Subari says prices are virus. ucts, took place in an absolutely population has not had any prob- changing everywhere and he has calm environment and the posi- lems with agricultural work explained this to the rally par- tions were reconciled; it was said and, conversely, there has been ticipants as well. EU4Digital to carry out market that all the accumulated agricul- maximum support in this re- The agreement has been assessment in Eastern partner tural products will come out eas- gard. Logistics was also ar- reached and a distribution ma- ily and the distribution com- ranged on how to import the chine will go to every village, countries pany, which has large spaces in goods needed here and how to every family, which will be Tbilisi, will receive the men- export agricultural products, loaded with products and will he EU has announced that it will support the extension of the tioned product, then will supply from which the rest of Georgia take it to any part of Georgia, T‘Digital innovation and scale-up’ initiative to the Eastern part- the rest of Georgia. is supplied, and not only Geor- Tbilisi, Kutaisi. ner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Repub- The governor promises locals gia, but also the neighbors, “Secondly, when a company lic of Moldova and Ukraine), in line with the Eastern Partnership that more resources will be mo- which naturally, is now closed. buys something for 1, the price policy beyond 2020. As for price dissatisfaction, increase is about 5-7 tetri, not a The initiative will allow digital start-ups and small and medium- Subari said that the current situ- single tetri more. In other words, sized enterprises to improve their access to finance and EU mar- Weather ation, the current crisis in the this price increase cannot even kets, and strengthen their links with EU innovation ecosystems.