The resource-rich Central Asian nation of 34 million had been led by Mirziyoyev, who took over in late 2016 following the death of veteran leader Islam Karimov, who had run Uzbekistan with an iron fist for 27 years.

Georgia’s banking sector, which includes 15 commercial banks, of which 14 have foreign capital, started to show its first signs of recovery at the beginning of the year, when some of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic were first eased.

Parliament endorsed the new government that emerged from the overwhelming July election victory of the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity, including President Maia Sandu’s appointment of Natalia Gavrilita as PM.

Georgia’s economic recovery continued to gather pace as the country eased the majority of the restrictions it had imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.