Georgian opposition: Russians purchased over 3,000 apartments in July

One of the leaders of the Georgian United National Movement (UNM) opposition party, MP Levan Khabeishvili has said that Russian citizens bought 3,200 apartments in Georgia in July alone.

The total number of apartments bought by Russians since the beginning of 2022 has exceeded 4,000. “This is a whole city block,” Khabeishvili complained. At the same time, 16,480 Russians (home buyers and members of their families) received a residence permit in Georgia - the current law allows apartment owners to apply for such a status.

There are also several cases of legal registration by Russians of kindergartens and even secondary schools, Kommersant reports.

The MP recalled that the UNM is demanding that the government of Irakli Garibashvili restore the visa regime with Russia, which was cancelled in 2011 by the then President Mikheil Saakashvili. Other proposed measures to “deter potential Russian aggressors” include a ban on the purchase of apartments and other real estates, a one-month limit on the period of stay in the country for tourism purposes, and the mandatory recognition of the territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine in writing. “Our authorities have no homeland. Their slogan is: Georgia without Georgians!” Khabeishvili concluded.

Responding to these claims, the general secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze, noted that the Russians are “developing the tourism industry” of the country, so their arrival, including for a long stay, “should only be welcomed.”

Kaladze also emphasised that Georgia "will not join the unilateral sanctions against Russia and Russians."

The real estate company "Bina" told "Kommersant" that the Russians mainly buy apartments in Tbilisi, as well as in Batumi - on the Black Sea coast. New buildings are of particular interest to the citizens of the Russian Federation, but only those that are already registered in the public register, resided and are fully commissioned.