The opposition is holding a protest action near the building of the Georgian Foreign Ministry in Tbilisi against the abolition of the visa regime by the Russian Federation, as well as the restoration of direct flights with Moscow.
According to TASS, dozens of opposition representatives and civil activists gathered near the Foreign Ministry building. The participants of the action speak out against steps aimed at rapprochement between Georgia and the Russian Federation. They also criticize those government officials who supported the abolition of the visa regime for Georgian citizens and the ban on direct flights between Tbilisi and Moscow.
Law enforcement officers are on duty near the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Recall that earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the abolition of the visa regime for Georgian citizens from May 15. By another decree, the president canceled the ban on flights of Russian airlines and the sale of tours to Georgia that had been in force since 2019.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili regarded the decisions taken by the Russian side as a provocation. She also demanded an urgent convening of the Security Council in connection with Moscow’s decision. At the same time, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilya Darchiashvili said that he welcomes the decision of the Russian leadership to abolish the visa regime for citizens of the republic. “More than 1 million of our citizens live in the Russian Federation, who have very close ties with people, relatives, loved ones who live in Georgia, and this decision, seen through a humanitarian prism, is welcome for any responsible authority,” TASS quoted him as saying.
In turn, opposition deputies Roman Gotsiridze and Khatia Dekanoidze submitted a draft to the parliament that introduces a temporary ban on the purchase of real estate by Russian citizens without a residence permit. According to NewsGeorgia, according to the draft, at this stage, the restriction should be in effect until the end of 2024. In addition, Russians will not be able to enter into ownership in the event of an act of donation of real estate. But the restriction will not apply in case of inheritance of property. Roman Gotsiridze explained that the “growing propensity” of Russian citizens to buy real estate in Georgia limits the property rights of the Georgians themselves.
According to RIA Novosti, the decision to cancel the visa regime for Georgian citizens by Russia and open direct flights between the two countries increased the demand for air tickets from the Russian Federation to Georgia on the Aviasales service five times.
It is also noted that on the OneTwoTrip website in the first three hours (from 12 to 15) after the news appeared, the demand for air tickets increased three times compared to the period before noon, and the number of those looking for hotels in the neighboring country increased by one and a half.
Users of the Yandex. Travel” in the first five hours after the news appeared, they began to look for air tickets to Georgia seven times more often. Most Russians are interested in visiting Georgia in the summer.
Source: Rosbalt
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