The head ofGeorgian Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Mikheil Chelidze, believes that the community should accept the results of the October 26 elections and the issue of new elections should not be on the agenda.
Mikheil Chelidze evaluated freebusiness.ge's demands regarding new elections and the release of political prisoners on TV-program "Analytics".
"Regarding political prisoners, if they are truly political prisoners, I completely agree that there should be no excess use of force and justice must be protected. As for new elections, I don't think this issue should be on the agenda. Elections were held, whatever the result is, the community should accept this result, that's what I think. There are many businesses that say it shouldn't happen this way. It shouldn't be that 2,500 businesses are isolated, everyone has the right to express their opinion, but it shouldn't be that those who didn't join this list must be diminished.
Business needs a calm, predictable environment. It was like this every year during elections, business registrations always decrease, and the economy is somewhat restricted. In the first three quarters, according to the statistics we have, there is growth in macroeconomic indicators in many directions. Recently, the HoReCa business has been severely restricted, it was hit hard because tourism is already reduced in winter and we can say it's completely dead, which is difficult for business. For example, restaurants and cafes near Rustaveli Avenue, on Shardeni Street, were hit very hard. They have no business, monthly turnover might be GEL 1000. All this is generally the country's responsibility. Those citizens who are protesting, and scared away tourists, are our citizens," said Mikheil Chelidze and noted that he voiced the position of 1000 businesses.
