Russian citizens hold rally in Tbilisi opposing Kremlin's position

Russian citizens have held a rally in front of the Georgian parliament building today, saying that Georgians’ anti-occupation protests are justified and that they do not share the attitude of the Kremlin on many issues regarding Georgia.

Demonstrators said that they have always felt safe in Georgia, and opposed Russia’s ban on direct flights to Georgia imposed due to “security threats.”

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They said that many in Russia have a different view on Georgia and they do not share the views and statements of state officials.

The poster reads:"Putin and Kremlin remember: Abkhazia and Samachablo (South Ossetia) are Georgia,"-  referring to the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia. Photo: netgazeti. 

There are other Russian citizens in Georgia who share our views but they refrain from standing here because they have relatives in Russia,” Netgazeti cited one of the demonstrators by saying.

 Russia banned direct flights to Georgia from July 8 after Russian MPs were forced to leave Tbilisi on June 20, due to an incident in parliament when Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov took the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker.

The Duma also proposed the Russian government ban Georgian products, which was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin.

Russia says that flights will be resumed when “Russophobic hysteria” has ended in Georgia.