Former Ukrainian president Poroshenko urges citizens to travel to Georgia
Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko has urged his citizens to travel to Georgia on holidays in an act of solidarity with he country. Screenshot from video.
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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.
In a video address released through his Twitter account, the former head of the state likened Russian government's announcement of banning flights to Georgia starting July 8 to "methods" used by the Kremlin against Ukraine.
Saying the moves were aimed at striking Georgia's tourism industry, Poroshenko called on Ukrainians planning for vacation to pick the Caucasus country as their destination in solidarity with the state.
Poroshenko's video address is available with English subtitles below:
უკრაინელების გულები საქართველოსთვის ძგერს https://t.co/LWUqS7jsAv
— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) June 24, 2019
We the Ukrainians certainly should not leave our Georgian brothers in trouble. I want to call on our compatriots who are planning a vacation abroad or in the occupied Crimea, to reorient to Georgia.
Go to the magnificent, sunny resorts of Georgia, where the Georgians will demonstrate their hospitality.
The former president also asked the Ukrainian government and infrastructure ministry to provide discounted travels to Georgia during the time.
Concluding his address, Poroshenko also proposed changing the official name for Georgia in Ukraine from the Russian-derived "Gruziya" to "Sakartvelo", the latter reflecting the way Georgians address their country.
The proposal follows a recent change by Georgian state agencies to refer to Ukraine's capital with the native form "Kiyv", instead of Russian-based "Kiev", a move mentioned by the politician in his video.
Russian officials called for boycott of Georgian resorts and trade goods in the wake of protests in Tbilisi that erupted last week in response to a Russian Duma MP's address to the Georgian parliament from the seat of it speaker.
Political opposition and citizens blocked Rustaveli Avenue to voice their anger at the incident on the backdrop of Russian military's occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Russian state officials called the events "Russophobic", while president Putin suspended flights to Georgia starting July 8.
Moscow believes that there is ‘Russophobic hysteria’ in Georgia and the resumption of Russia-Georgia direct flights, banned by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 21, is unlikely to take place until the attitude is changed, Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov says.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said Ambassadors of EU members states welcome the Georgian Dream ruling party’s decision to conduct the 2020 parliamentary elections on the proportional electoral system alone.
Composed again largely of youth, the demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament of Georgia on the fifth consecutive day. Monday's peaceful demonstration ended at around 12 a.m. with the protesters marching around the parliament of Georgia holding hands and singing the national anthem. Calling everyone to rejoin them every day at 7 p.m. on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi, the organisers say their other demands still need to be fulfilled.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that after 2020 parliamentary elections the county may have a coalition government, as, for the first time, the race is likely to take place with the proportional electoral system with a zero threshold.
Foreign embassies in Georgia are promoting the country as a tourism destination, sharing their personal experience of travelling in Georgia in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent ban on flights with Georgia. On the other hand Georgians also invite travellers from all over the world to come to their country.
UNWTO’s Georgian head highlights quality tourism in Georgia
The social campaign under the hashtag #VisitGeorgia #SpendYourSummerinGeorgia continues in Georgia where Georgians as well as foreign visitors share their personal experience of travelling in Georgia and inviting everyone to support the tourism industry by travelling in Georgia this year.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze have sent good wishes to Ukraine on its Independence Day.
Georgia is a safe and popular tourist country, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani at a meeting with the diplomatic corps today in Tbilisi. "Georgia is recognised as a safe country by the European Union and despite the recent situation, no incident has been observed [of assault on] foreign citizens or tourists [visiting our country]”, Zalkaliani said.