Economy Minister: number of Russian citizens entering Georgia in pre-pandemic range

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”.