Time in Tbilisi: March 29, 2024 14:51
Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a ban on flights to Georgia as part of Russian state reaction to protest in Tbilisi following a Duma MP's appearance in the Tbilisi parliament.
Putin ordered cessation of flights after a date of July 8 while also tasking his government with returning Russian citizens on temporary stay in Georgia and prohibiting Russian tour agencies from organising travels to the country.
The Kremlin's press office said the Russian interior ministry would establish communication with its counterpart in Tbilisi - amid an absence of diplomatic relations between the two states following the 2008 war between them - for their "security and and return" to homeland.
A protester wearing a banner related to the presence of Russian troops in Georgia's occupied regions of Abkhazia and (Tskhinvali) South Ossetia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Official Russian reaction to developments in Tbilisi have included calls for boycotting tourism and trade goods with Georgia and demands of Russia's participation in investigations of events in the wake of Duma MP Sergey Gavrilov's appearance at the Georgian parliament on Thursday.
Gavrilov's address from the seat of the parliament speaker sparked prostest from opposition MPs and citizens, who blocked the Rustaveli Avenue in front of the lawmaking venue and demanded repercussion for the Georgian government.
After police used water cannons, teargas and rubber bullets on them throughout the night of June 20-21, protesters returned on Friday evening to resume their demonstration.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke with foreign diplomats about the June 20 protest and expressed her readiness to meet every political force that rejects the “destructive calls”. “We have no option but unification, reconciliation and following our European path”, she stated.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović has called on "all sides" of the clashes in Tbilisi to "resolve any controversies through peaceful dialogue" after the confrontation left 240 individuals injured on Thursday night.
Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov, whose address in the Georgian parliament sparked demonstrations in Tbilisi yesterday, says that the unrest was beforehand planned “by radical Georgian opposition forces,” who used the presence of Russian MPs in the parliament building as a reason to start anti-government rallies.
Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov has claimed "radicals" in the Parliament of Georgia doused him in water and attempted to forcefully take his papers in an incident at the lawmaking body in Tbilisi on Thursday.
Russian MP Alexey Chepa, who is currently paying a visit to Georgia to attend the interparliamentary session on Orthodoxy, has denied occupation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Russia. Has also called for the return of the Soviet Union, and for the countries of the former USSR to be reunited.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi is still underway. The demands that were voiced by the protesters at the very beginning of the rally remain unchanged: the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia; the release of people detained yesterday and holding of snap parliamentary elections with proportional electoral system.
Russian officials on Friday called for boycott of tourism and trade relations with Georgia following what President Putin's administration called a "Russophobic provocation" in Tbilisi clashes the previous day.
The official Kremlin response decried the events as a "dangerous display", while the State Duma's Tourism Committee head called for boycott of Georgian tourist resorts and trade goods, among reactions.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi will resume at 7 p.m. today. Protesters made their feelings about Russian president Vladimir Putin known on the Rustaveli Avenue on Friday, as a younger crowd gathered on the street on the second day of demonstrations.
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to ban flights to Georgia amid the protest rallies in Tbilisi following a Russian delegation’s recent visit to Georgia has caused even wider public solidarity among the local population against the Russian occupation.
The Government of Georgia will be utmost principled and protect the country’s sovereignty as well as the economic welfare of its citizens, Irakli Chikovani, Strategic Communication Advisor to the Prime Minister stated. Chikovani made the statement on behalf of the government amid the official Russian reaction to developments in Tbilisi to boycott tourism and trade goods with Georgia.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into an alleged attempt to interfere with the work of a Russian TV company in Tbilisi today. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported on June 22 that “aggressive radical elements” attempted to attack a crew of Russia 24.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced today that the state institutions are fully ensuring public order and safety in the country amid the recent protest rallies in Georgia. It also said, the international community, including the OSCE, has been informed on the steps that the state has taken for ensuring the safety during the protest rallies in front of the parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi and throughout the country.
Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing has announced a "strengthening of control" over alcoholic drinks imported from Georgia, in a move reminiscent of a 2006 embargo on wine from the country.
A well-known Georgian basketball player Zaza Pachulia has joined the ‘Visit Georgia’ campaign and called on his fans to visit Georgia amid Russia’s ban on flights to the country. He has posted photos of Georgian landscapes on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, calling on all his followers and NBA fans from all over the world to visit this ‘amazing country’.
Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko has urged citizens of his country to travel to Georgian resorts and counter Russia's efforts to "weaken Georgia economically" following president Vladimir Putin's ban on flights to the country.
There is hardly any reason that would put the quality of Georgian wine production under the question mark, the National Wine Agency of Georgia responded to Russia’s recent warning on "strengthening control" over alcoholic drinks imported from Georgia.
Former Foreign Minister of Georgia Irakli Menagarishvili says that Russia has unleashed an economic war against Georgia and it is very likely the country will gradually ban Georgian products on its markets which were only recently re-allowed in 2013.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has made his first comments regarding June 20 events and following rallies in Tbilisi, praising the offer of the Georgian Dream ruling party on elections and urged the investigation of rally dispersal in central Tbilisi last week.
Russian rugby club Slava has suspended contracts with two Georgian rugby players Rezi Brodzeli and Saba Iluridze after the two celebrated a try in a match in Russia with one of their eyes covered, expressing solidarity with the Tbilisi rallies.
Greece’s Alpha TV channel has broadcast a video clip about tourism in Georgia. The video clip was made in collaboration between the TV channel and the Georgian Embassy to Greece. The video piece, which aimed to increase Georgia’s popularity amongst tourists in the country was shown as part of the TV programme Alpha Pantou.
The Government of Georgia will cover the travel expenses of those passengers who will travel from any Russian airport to Georgia via Yerevan. A total of 600,000 euros has been issued to finance transit flights, so that each of the passenger will receive up to 90 euros to cover their travel expenses.
The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency on Friday rejected media reports on restoration of direct flights with Russia, saying the “status quo of the mentioned situation has not changed”.