Russian tourists should foresee Georgia’s law on occupied areas, says Georgia’s Envoy to Russia

Georgia’s Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze says Russian tourists visiting Georgia should abide by the country’s laws, particularly the Law on Occupied Territories, to avoid problems while visiting. 

Abashidze said this today in response to a statement by Russia’s Tourism Federal Agency, which urged Russia’s tour operators to "warn Russian tourists wishing to visit Georgia about the threats existing in the country”. 

An Adviser of Russia's Tourism Federal Agency head,  Svetlana Sergeeva, told Russia’s Ria Novosti yesterday that the Law on Occupied Territories operated in Georgia, which envisaged penalties for people who visited Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). 

 The two occupied regions of Georgia were recognised as independent republics by Russia in the wake of the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008. 

Sergeeva stressed in the absence of diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia, the possibility of consular and legal protection of Russians in Georgia was "extremely limited” should they need it.

She noted in 2015 three Russian citizens were detained for breaking the Law on Occupied Territories of Georgia and several others were fined. 

Georgia's Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze said all tourists visiting Georgia should abide by the country's laws. 

Today Abashidze said everyone who visited Georgia should abide by the country's rules, and that was only fair.

Russian tourists should take the law into account as there won’t be any exceptions in this regard,” Abashidze said in regards to visiting the occupied regions. 

Abashidze noted the flow of tourists from many countries, Russia among them, had "significantly increased this year” and international organisations and tourists themselves had spoken about the "comfortable, safe situation in Georgia”. 

Meanwhile in the media interview Russia's Sergeeva encouraged Russian tourists visiting Georgia to check whether their medical insurance was valid in Georgia as "medical costs in Georgia were very high". 

Abashidze said he agreed with one part of the comment by Sergeeva and also said it was best for all visitors to ensure they had adequate medical insurance before arriving in any country.