About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
Georgia to Ban Agriculture Land Sales to Foreigners
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 9 Jun.'17 / 16:21

Parliamentary Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze announced on June 8 that the Cabinet of Ministers and the parliamentary majority struck a deal on introducing a new provision in the constitution prohibiting agricultural land sales to foreign citizens, citing “strategic interests of Georgian citizens and the country.”

According to Kobakhidze, the ruling party will also initiate a separate bill for the same purpose before the constitution comes into force.

“When this decision was being made, all factors were taken into account, including the existing and potential market value of the land, share of land sales in foreign investments and in economic growth, the current practice of agricultural land purchase and most importantly, our national interests,” Kobakhidze said.

The Parliamentary Chairman added that two interests were weighed – “the strategic interest that the Georgian land stays in the hands of the Georgian state and its citizens, and the economic interest.” “We conducted an in-depth analysis of the influence of this regulation on both factors and came to a conclusion to prioritize the first factor.” 

Irakli Kobakhidze added that the nationwide public discussions played an important role in making the decision. “We saw that the Georgian society has particularly emotional attitudes towards the issue and of course, this served as one the most important drivers for the decision.”

Speaking at the Government session on June 1, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili confirmed the decision, saying the Government would appeal to the Constitutional Reform Commission with the request to introduce a provision in the draft constitution “restricting the sale of agricultural land to individuals not holding the Georgian citizenship.”

In the words of Kvirikashvili, the text will be formulated accordingly: “Agricultural land plot, as a resource of special importannce, can be owned by a citizen of Georgia, union of citizens of Georgia, state and self-governing entity.”

“I believe that the [proposed] formulation directly corresponds to the demands of vast majority of our citizens and I think this is the decision that the ruling team has to take,” Kvirikashvili noted.

Opposition Reactions

Two parliamentary opposition parties – the United National Movement and the Movement for Liberty-European Georgia – criticized the government’s move as a populist step ahead of the October municipal elections.

UNM’s Akaki Minashvili said that the ruling party should be concentrated on job creation, agricultural development and investment. “Any regulation that the Government speaks of today will prevent this and will further affect our citizens living in poverty. This regulation means more problems for our citizens and fewer opportunities to boost their income,” Minashvili stated.

The Movement for Freedom - European Georgia assessed the decision as “yet another populist move of the Government.” “Literally, no one will be able to put the Georgian land on his back and take it away,” said Giorgi Tugushi of the European Georgia.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
11