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„Speak Less… Pay More”

October 8, 2007

According to the decision of the JSC Georgian United Telecommunication Company subscribers in the Shida Kartli, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Samtkhe-Javakheti and Guria-Samegrelo regions will only be billed for the minutes spent on the telephone after 1 October 2007.

consequently, a subscriber will pay one tetri for every minute exceeding the subscribed limit. The Gori population thinks that the regions are not ready for the introduction of a similar regulation and that the decision is not in accordance with the social situation there.

The decision of I. Shmolinsk, the Director-General of the Georgian United Telecommunication Company, was published on 12 September 2007. That decision reached Gori on 24 September. However, the majority of the population of the district does not have any information about the innovation.

The decision states:
“…2. Subscribers to regional telecommunication stations will have 150 free minutes per month.
“…3. A subscriber shall pay 0, 01 lari for every minute exceeding the 150 free minutes per month.

Ramaz Chutkerashvili, director of the Gori branch of ‘Telecom’, said that the company had made a similar decision after conducting a survey of the situation in the district.

“We surveyed the current situation in the district and it turned out that our permanent subscribers on average spend 80-90 minutes per month and 150 minutes is much more than they need. Thus, there is no reason for worrying about this innovation; just the opposite, the system will be well-organized and we will not have delays in work,” said Chutkerashvili.

Fridon Afriasmashvili, chairman of the Gori Municipality Financial Department, stated that the innovation will require introducing amendments to the law. He learned about the changes in the electro-communication system from the Human Rights Center. As the Center found out, the allowances for war participants as well as for family members of people died in the war have been canceled since July of this year.

“We intended to pay subscription fees for the people belonging to the above-mentioned categories. In July, under the decision of the central government, we abolished those allowances. However, their general allowance was increased. Regarding telephone bills the district budget does not and will not envisage any allowances. This new decision is a bit strange for us,” said Afriamashvili.

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

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