Residents of Khulo, Shuakhevi and Keda municipalities, who are engaged in tobacco sales, held a protest rally in objection to the new regulations based on which selling of tobacco products without packaging will be prohibited starting November 21 and excising the production will become obligatory.

Locals, whose main source of income is the production of tobacco, claim that traditional cultivation of tobacco will lose sense under the conditions of new regulations.

Residents are demanding the government to consider their protest. Otherwise, the population will held rallies in Batumi and Tbilisi.

"Do not tax our tobacco. This is our annual income by which we buy food and medicine. Regulations do not apply to tobacco ...

Please consider our request and petition to the central government", - said the protesters.

Levan Gorgiladze, Keda Mayor met with protesters and said that he shared the demand and would transfer the message to Finance Minister.

The protesters attempted to block the central Batumi-Akhaltsikhe highway but the police prevented them from blocking the road.