Following the approval of the Plenary Agenda, the floor was given to the MPs for the political statements.

Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze: "We, the Parliament of Georgia, are deeply concerned about the growing ceasefire violations by Russia in eastern Ukraine, which have recently been compounded by the large-scale mobilization of Russian troops along the eastern borders of Crimea and Ukraine. We are closely monitoring developments and can clearly see Russia's usual and dangerous behavior, which lies in the extreme escalation of the conflict. Georgia and Ukraine have a strong strategic partnership and a long history of friendship”.

According to N. Samkharadze, the Russian occupation, gross human rights violations and devastating consequences have become a daily occurrence for both Ukraine and Georgia - "Russia's policy towards its neighbors is a threat not only to the Black Sea region, but also to European security architecture as a whole. We welcome and support the deepening of relations between NATO and Ukraine and support the Alliance's increased engagement in the Black Sea region, which we see as a guarantee of peace, security and stability. We also call on NATO to speed up the accession process of Georgia and Ukraine. Ukraine should not be left alone in the face of Russian aggression”.

Chair of the Agrarian Issues Committee, Nino Tsilosani: "The first and foremost for the sector development is the increase of access to land resources, and within the framework of this idea, by the decision of the government and the Prime Minister, a program has been expanded to allow the privatization of arable and mowing lands. This will allow our citizens to invest, own land and engage in economic activity. In this way, 11 000 hectares of land will be transferred to private ownership and, consequently, more than 100 mln GEL will be mobilized in the budget for the agricultural activities. I would also like to announce that within the Committee we plan to set up a working group on the efficient use of state-owned land resources, where we intend to involve the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy and other related parties to make state-owned arable land, pastures and cattle trails maximally engage in economic activities in a short period of time. I would also like to share with you the prospects for the development of agro-tourism in Georgia and, with the assumption that the proper implementation of the vaccination process and the responsibility of each of us will end the pandemic and the tourism sector will finally return to the level of activity, state that good infrastructure will be created for the development of agro-tourism in Georgia and farmers will be given the opportunity to release their products in the agro-tourism sector and tourist facilities”.

Vice-Speaker, Levan Ioseliani: "There is even more anxiety in the Rioni Gorge, and today, our state is going to talk to our citizens with police forces and special purpose vehicles. I think it is unacceptable not only for us as MPs but for all citizens. We must first of all speak to our citizens with arguments and prove the correctness of the opinions”.

Chair of the Sports and Youth Issues Committee, Mikheil Kavelashvili: "2021 started quite successfully for the Georgian sport. I have to mention four victories of the national rugby team in the Qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. I would also like to mention the Grand Slam Judo Tournament held in Georgia for the first time, where our team took the first place, as well as the skaters who won the first licenses for the 2022 Winter Olympics. It was the joy of all of us when Nikoloz Basilashvili took the first place at the Doha International Tennis Tournament and defeated one of the strongest tennis players in the world - Federer. Also noteworthy is the success of our national futsal team, which for the first time won a trip to the European Championship. And, of course, these achievements were crowned by the greatest success of our team of wrestlers in the Russian capital. It is symbolic that on April 9, the day of the restoration of our independence, the Georgian national anthem was sung several times in the Russian capital, in the country that feuds with our country, our independence and freedom. We have a lot of success ahead".

First Deputy Chair of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee, Vladimer Kakhadze: "Ritual and entertainment gatherings are being held in hidden spaces, against the law. Please note the restrictions imposed. The Earth has an enemy - Covid infection. A year and a half have passed since the spread of the virus. We already have a multiple increase in infection. The positive rate rose to 3.66%. The 4% rate is already a critical level, which makes us turn to the side of the measures that we, neither the legislators, nor the executives, or the representatives of the businesses wish to be imposed”.

Faction-independent MP, member of the Citizens’ party, Alexander Elisashvili: "There is no argument as to why pensioners should receive pensions in only one bank and why this bank should deduct 36% of them when they borrow. Unfortunately, two MPs from the minority cannot change the situation. You are in the majority and therefore, I appeal to the Georgian Dream, I know that many of you share our position and I know that there are issues where we cannot have different opinions. Retirees should not be robbed by a bank, there can be no difference of opinion between the ruling party and the opposition in this regard. Therefore, we ask and urge you to be united around this issue. Be brave to make a decision together that will make life easier for the most vulnerable people – pensioners”.

European Socialists, Fridon Injia: "During the last three months, practically all products have risen in price by 30% to 69%. Some products have even become 100% more expensive. In the near future, the population will probably find itself in a dire situation if the government does not take effective measures. We have taken a market economy course. Which market economy can one talk about when virtually all borders around the country are closed where people can potentially export their product? Therefore, the market economy declared by us, at some point, may have to undergo some modifications”.

Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Maia Bitadze: "The territory of the former hippodrome (amounting to 50 mln GEL worth property) was transferred to the capital by the Cartu Group, where a central park is being built absolutely free of charge. There are people who are trying to mislead the population and politicize this issue to some extent. I would like to share with you pictures of what was planned on the territory of the former hippodrome before this area was redeemed by the Cartu Group. These photos show the buildings, 40-storey buildings that were to be built in the area of the hippodrome. This time, Cartu Group is financing the entire rehabilitation of the area, which will cover paths, spaces for all people and our population will make good use of this recreational area in this way. It will be a city-level and not a district-level central park. I would like to call once again on the people who are speculating and purposefully casting a shadow over the gift that the Cartu Foundation has given to the city and is doing the park construction absolutely free of charge. Refrain from being in a state of constant antagonism and realize that there are people who need to enjoy this opportunity”.

According to her, this park will be for all the residents of Tbilisi and there will be attraction centers, including for tourists, and will be, in fact, one of the preconditions for increasing the value of Tbilisi tourism, not to mention the ecological significance of the project.

Chairman of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Mikheil Sarjveladze, once again expressed his sorrow over the death of one of the greatest Georgian writers of modern times, Guram Dochanashvili, and focused on his merits.

"I thought how much what I want to say now can be put into a political statement format, but on the other hand, I think it's absolutely worth it, because probably all policies are important for the state to be based on the value system, the right values, which, of course, could be extremely important in terms of the unifying the society. And, lo and behold in this context I would like to echo the fact that happened last week, which, I think, is the most difficult and most remarkable at the same time. This is the fact that Georgia physically lost the great humanist of our time - Guram Dochanashvili. I would like to use the opportunity of today's Plenary Session to appreciate this man's great contribution to the development of Georgia and Georgian society. He was a very great humanist and with your permission, I would like to ask everyone to appreciate the great merit of this person with a small round of applause”.

After the statements, the Parliament discussed the agenda items.

MPs deliberated in an accelerated manner of consideration and approved with 76 votes the Bill on Higher Education.

According to the rapporteur, the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Ekaterine Dgebuadze, the Bill is preconditioned by the fact that the Law on Higher Education does not regulate the enrollment and funding of students with special educational needs in Georgian higher education institutions without passing the unified national exams. These young people live in the occupied territories and due to the lack of inclusive education in the mentioned areas, they are forced to receive general education in schools operating in the territory controlled by the Georgian government, which implement special educational programs for children with sensory (auditory and visual) disorders.

MPs deliberated with I reading and approved with 78 votes the Bill on Public Health. The purpose of these changes is to provide a basis for the Government to establish the terms and conditions of health and accident insurance for the entry and / or stay of the relevant aliens and stateless persons, taking into account the epidemiological situation.

The lawmakers also adopted with 78 votes the draft resolution on the State of Enforcement of the Law of Georgia on Tobacco Control.

The draft resolution envisages a positive assessment of the state of enforcement of the Law of Georgia on Tobacco Control.

According to the draft resolution, the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee shall ensure that the Government of Georgia and the relevant ministries submit a final report on the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Control and provide information on the relevant measures within 1 month.

At today's Plenary Session, the draft resolution on the ratification of the Agreement on Air Traffic between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Republic of Korea was adopted with 79 votes.

The next Plenary Session is due tomorrow, April 14 at 1200 hrs.