‘World welcome to Georgia’ – new campaign goes viral amid Putin’s flight ban
Russian state reaction to Tbilisi protests has caused even wider public solidarity among the local population against the Russian occupation. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
Georgia is small but one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Many of you don’t know about it, because Soviet Regime did their best to hide to hide it from rest of the world and Putin of course still regrets the destruction of one of the bloodiest regimes in the history of mankind”, the message reads.
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".
#WorldWelcometoGeorgia pic.twitter.com/WbHsAaSYVq
— Georgia in UK (@GeoEmbLondon) June 22, 2019
Local airline company Georgian Airways, which carries out flights from Georgia to Russia, will offer its passengers Tbilisi-Yerevan-Moscow transit flights from July 8.
In order to create maximum comfort for passengers, the transfer time will be about 1 hour”, the company announced.
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 on June 20.
He 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.
y-day #Putin banned flights to ???????? and asked ????????n travel agencies to stop organizing tours. ???????? cutting its citizens off #unique #affordable #European destination. meanwhile, the ???? is welcome to ????????! ⬇️ some reasons why #Georgia is worth a visit #WelcomeToGeorgia #VisitGeorgia
— Ani Gabrichidze (@AniGabrichidze) June 22, 2019
Over 12,000 Russian citizens have signed an online petition calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel his recent ban of flights between Russia and Georgia.
Russian state reaction to Tbilisi protests has caused even wider public solidarity among the local population against the Russian occupation.
Watch why you should visit Georgia in summer in a video above.