Tbilisi Mayor: Safety of all tourists, including Russians, ensured in Georgia
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, June 27
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze says that the safety of each tourist, including those from Russia, is ensured in Georgia.
The Mayor made the statement on Wednesday before starting the sitting in the City Hall, when commenting on the decision of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, which bans flights with Georgia from July 8.
“Georgians do not have any phobias on national grounds centuries-old tolerant traditions of our country are the proof. None of our country’s citizens should have any problems in Russia, and at the same time, no Russian tourists will have any problems in Georgia. In general, the security of all tourists, including Russian ones, is ensured in Georgia,” he said.
Kaladze said that restriction of tourism is inconvenient, but Georgia has other opportunities to attract tourists from different countries.
“Development of tourism is very important for our country, and we were delighted to see how positive statistics we had in terms of tourism growth. Travel embargo is not good, but Georgia has the potential,” he said.
The Mayor explained that of course, the recent developments will harm the Georgian economy.
“We must do our best to introduce our country, the possibilities we have and the most beautiful places in Georgia to the whole world. We have everything - mountains, sea and other attractions to be an interesting destination for nationals from other countries,” he noted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a temporary ban on passenger flights from Russia to Georgia on June 21, after anti-Russian rallies were launched in Georgia following the visit of Russian Duma MPs in Tbilisi parliament on June 20.
The protests escalated so much that 240 people were injured and more than 300 were detained.
The ban which begins on July 8 will also prevent the passenger flights of Georgian airlines from landing in Russia.
The Kremlin had said the inward ban was to “ensure Russia’s national security and protect Russian nationals from criminal and other unlawful activities.”
In the wake of Moscow’s decision, many foreign countries and diplomats called on their citizens to visit Georgia.
