Economy Minister: number of Russian citizens entering Georgia in pre-pandemic range
Davitashvili was responding to speculation on an increased number of visitors from Russia entering Georgia in the recent days and on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
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The number of Russian citizens entering the territory of Georgia over the recent days is in the pre-pandemic range, Georgia’s Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said on Monday.
Davitashvili was responding to speculation on an increased number of visitors from Russia entering Georgia in the recent days and on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to a question by the Interpressnews news agency at a briefing on Monday, the Minister explained about 20-25 thousand Russian citizens had crossed the Georgian border over the last few days.
The number is roughly in the range recorded before the 2020 pandemic restrictions, and before strict self-isolation rules imposed in 2021, Davitashvili pointed out.
The information should not be hidden - on the contrary, it is interesting. We have seen that many issues in society are perceived very emotionally [on the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine] and we absolutely understand. Therefore, more accurate information is to be provided,” Davitashvili told reporters.
The Economy Minister also said Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Interior Minister, had provided the Government’s cabinet members with specific relevant data today, and would also make a more detailed report in his address to the Parliament in the near future.
Davitashvili also mentioned the exact statistics would be released by the Interior Ministry “as soon as possible”.
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About 20,000 Russian citizens have entered Georgia since February 24, compared to 40,000 in the same period in 2019, Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Interior Minister of Georgia, said on Wednesday in response to rumours about “unprecedented level” influx of Russian citizens into Georgia over the recent days on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Georgia’s revenue service on Thursday rejected TV reports that alleged a drastic increase in the number of individuals crossing the country’s northern border from Russia over the past days by saying there was “no sharp difference” observed in the figures over the past 10 days.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the minister of finance of Georgia, on Monday said the number of individuals entering and leaving the country had both increased recently, stressing the “situation is under full control” at border checkpoints.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said the recent appearance of an armoured military vehicle at the Russia-Georgia border “carries no threats” of military aggression, noting the development was Russia’s “internal issue”.
Georgian finance minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Monday responded to a statement by the president of the country Salome Zourabichvili on the possibility of reviewing Georgia's "fairly liberal" visa rules with Russia, saying there was “no need” for a review “at this stage”.
Georgian finance minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday said the “total effect” of migration to the country caused by the Russia-Ukraine war was “negative”.