Kobakhidze rejects reports Russians unwelcome in Georgia

Georgia remains open to tourists from all countries, including Russia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on August 6, rejecting what he described as false reports suggesting Russians are unwelcome or face risks in the country.

“Of course, our doors are open to everyone, to all tourists. This is something we must speak about very openly. And we will do everything to ensure that an appropriate environment is provided for all tourists in Georgia. This is our culture, our traditions, and this is what aligns with the economic interests of our country,” Kobakhidze told journalists.

His comments come amid the spread of online claims about alleged mistreatment of Russian visitors. Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) said earlier it had opened a criminal investigation on suspicion of sabotage linked to such social media posts.

Kobakhidze said the accounts behind the сообщений were created abroad, “in one specific country,” and were used to disseminate false information later amplified domestically by opposition-minded individuals.

“First of all, everyone should know that if someone is engaged in sabotaging Georgia, justice will reach everyone. From this point of view, of course, it is very important that this investigation has been launched,” he said, adding that authorities must complete the probe and identify all those involved.

By Tamilla Hasanova