Russian journalist birthday celebration sparks protests in Tbilisi
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, April 2
Vladimir Pozner, a famous Russian journalist known for his controversial comments about Georgia and its breakaway regions, has cut his visit to Georgia short. Pozner visited Tbilisi to celebrate his 87th birthday with his friends and the celebration was happening after the curfew.
The fact was followed by a massive backlash from activists in the country who gathered and protested the situation. Yesterday, after the protests, the Russian journalist left the country.
Georgian protesters threw eggs at Pozner's bus, cut power to the venue where the celebration was being hosted and accused Poznev of being a Kremlin propagandist. Pozner and his friends were allegedly fined for violating the Covid-19 restrictions in the country.
Representatives of the ruling team have defended the decision to let Pozner in Georgia. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili stated that Pozner had a valid negative Covid-19 test and noted that he isn't responsible for Russia's military occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
One of the main reasons for the protest in the country about Pozner's visit was his previous comments about Georgia's breakaway regions, particularly Abkhazia. Pozner said in 2010 that Georgia has lost Abkhazia 'forever' and that the region was never going to be 'Georgia's territory ever again.' Pozner has also blamed Georgia for the situation that led to the Georgian-Russian war.
Pozner wrote on his official page that it is not worth paying attention to what happened, he said that he will remain silent about the events that occurred in Tbilisi.
Georgian opposition member Tina Khidasheli said that “to Pozner, Georgia is not a country at all, it does not even have a name, it just is one big restaurant.”
One of the members of the UNM Zaal Udumashvili said that Pozner is an 'emissary of the Russian president Putin'. Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa political movement, said that the authorities had a mechanism at their disposal to refuse Pozner's entry into the country because of his statements against Georgia and its territorial integrity.
Girchi leader Zurab Japaridze stated that it is a shame that Pozner and his companions are moving around the city, freely dining in restaurants while the rest of Georgia is under a strict curfew.
