Kremlin warns Russian artists not to travel to Georgia
Official Russian reaction to developments in Tbilisi have included calls for boycotting tourism and trade goods with Georgia and demands for Russia's participation in the investigation of recent events. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov calls on Russian artists who planned to perform in Georgia “to think of their safety”.
Peskov told Interfax news agency today that Russian artists should take into consideration that their trip to Georgia “may be dangerous” amid the ongoing protest rallies.
We have not heard the Georgian authorities to convict those people who attempted to forcefully enter into the parliament [of Georgia] and attack the national [MPs] elected by the people of another country”, Peskov said.
Peskov referred to Tbilisi protests, which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament during the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Peskov's statement follows the Georgian musician Nino Katamadze’s recent announcement that she will not deliver concerts in Russia anymore, following the developments in Tbilisi.
Saying “Russia is an occupier, Putin is our joint enemy” Katamadze apologised for not joining the peaceful demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue earlier.
My music belongs to ordinary people despite their nationality, race, religion and sexual orientation!” Katamadze stated.
She said although her musical life differs from her inner attitude, Katamadze, who delivered a concert in Russia on June 22, said she would not perform there again anymore.
Hailing Katamadze’s talent, Peskov said, “she probably does not know a lot about politics”.
If she will have any questions, we will always be eager to explain”, Paskov said, adding that Georgian nation is treated with “great respect” in Russia.
Peskov also said that Russia cannot “positively assess” the aggressive actions of “extremists, nationalists” against the Russian MPs as well as the Georgian authorities “Russophobic” statements.
A total of 35 students from eleven different universities of Georgia have addressed the ruling Georgian Dream party Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili to support the establishment of a state advisory council of youth aimed at strengthening communication between the government and youth.
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.
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".
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.
Popular Georgian singer and songwriter Nino Katamadze on Sunday became the latest artist from the country to announce they would drop show dates in Russia, in protest of Russian occupation and following over 10 days of rallies against the Kremlin's politics in Georgia's capital Tbilisi.
Folk arts enthusiasts will be invited to watch artist performances, taste local cuisine and find artisanal items exhibited at the Art-Gene Festival in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. The country’s main folk music festival, which officially kicked off on June 16 in Akhmeta, in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, is moving to the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi, the customary home for the folklore fest.
Tbilisi City Court has left Moris Machalikashvili and two others-Ilia Memanishvili and Gogi Kurdovanidze in pretrial detention for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi. 19 protestors and 2 police officers have been charged regarding the June 20-21 rallies in central Tbilisi so far.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov considers that the meetings, similar to the negotiations between the Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers, “contribute to launching positive cooperation between the two countries”.