Georgian Foreign Ministry says ‘no threat’ to foreigners in Tbilisi, including Russians
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia that followed a Russian State Duma MP speaking from the Georgian parliament speaker's chair on June 20, will resume again at 7 p.m. today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
The guests of the capital of Georgia, foreign journalists and tourists, including the Russian Federation, have faced no threat”, the ministry reported.
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.
Composed largely of young demonstrators, the protest rallies on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi continue. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The ministry also underscored that investigation into “a small incident” of an alleged attempt to interfere with the work of a Russian TV company in Tbilisi is underway.
A journalist of Russia 24 reported yesterday that he was going to interview the owner of one of the tour companies over the possible affect of the Russian president Vladimir Putin's decision to ban flights to Georgia.
The video provided by the journalist shows that a couple of young men, allegedly Georgians, started to speak rudely with the female owner of the company and later beat her husband, who engaged in their dialogue.
The video shows the Russian journalist standing nearby. However, he was not attacked.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia that followed a Russian State Duma MP speaking from the Georgian parliament speaker's chair on June 20, has resumed at 7 p.m. today. Composed largely of young demonstrators, the crowds are now marching on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi in a sign of a peaceful protest.
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.
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.
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.
Over 12,000 Russian citizens have signed an online petition calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel his recent ban on flights between Russia and Georgia. "Allow flights between Georgia and Russia, as Russian citizens in Georgia are in safety. As for the protest rallies – this is the right of the Georgian citizens”, the text of the petition reads.
The recent address to “friends around the world” has gone viral in online media, calling on the rest of the world to come to Georgia amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent ban on flights with Georgia. Georgians invite travellers from all over the world to come to their country and "experience best wine, tastiest food and unforgettable hospitality provided by some of the warmest hearted people in the world".
A peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia is underway on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi for the fourth consecutive day. People have gathered again demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the release of people detained on June 20, the punishment of police officers who used excessive force during the clash with protesters and the holding of snap parliamentary elections with proportional electoral system.
The rally, which started at 11 a.m., calls upon the public to join them to “make the court” deliver fair verdicts for those detained during the June 20 rally in central Tbilisi, which was sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the country and in the Georgian parliament.
Lithuania is one of the first countries that has joined a new campaign supporting the Georgia’s tourism industry by calling on more of their citizens to visit the country. Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia Giedrius Poudziunas believes Georgia is “a wonderful environment” for adventure.