MP Sharashidze: GD wants to turn Georgia into a gambling country, “so why not legalise prostitution and drugs for tourism too?”

“Georgian Dream is trying to turn Georgia into a gambling country and is justifying it in the name of developing tourism,” said MP Giorgi Sharashidze from Gakharia for Georgia.

He said that if tourism is the goal, prostitution could be legalised on the same logic and tourism would flourish.

“Excuse me, but what tourism development are we talking about? If we want tourism, fine, by that logic prostitution could be legalised, and tourism would flourish. Drugs could be legalised too, and tourism would flourish even more. Is that the kind of tourism we want? That kind of economy? Do we want to get rich at the cost of ruining our children, our young people and our families? That is exactly Georgian Dream’s aim. When Georgian Dream decided to ban parties, its main aim was to pass ruinous laws without any opposition or resistance. I want to take this opportunity to call on the Patriarchate of Georgia to help us and get involved in this issue. As always, the government is exploiting its power, and under no circumstances should gambling be allowed to develop to this extent in Georgia. The bill came to Parliament on Monday, was discussed on Tuesday, and Parliament is due to pass it at second reading today. What is so urgent about legalising gambling that they want to pass the law in such a hurry? Of course, this raises suspicions, to say the least,” Sharashidze said.

Parliament has passed the bill amending the Law on Organising Lotteries, Gambling and Other Prize Games at its first reading.