Russia warns against travel to Georgia

The Russian Foreign Ministry has recommended Russians to refrain from traveling to Georgia.

In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the ministry drew attention to the “absence of security” for Russian citizens in Georgia and advised Russians against travelling to that country, Rustavi2 reported.

“Georgian secret services secretly trace Russians arriving in Georgia.  Detentions  are  not  publicized,  unlike  Georgian  President Mikheil Saakashvili`s “propaganda shows” such as his trip to the Kazbegi checkpoint where  he reportedly  welcomed Russian  travelers in,  saying “Come more often”, the statement reads.

Georgian MPs said the Russian FM got annoyed after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili visited the Kazbegi checkpoint at the Russia-Georgia boundary and invited Russian tourists to travel to Georgia. Georgian lawmakers think this is another provocative statement by Russia.

“The fact that the number of visitors of Georgia fro Russia is rising, indicates that Russian citizens feel freedom in Georgia, feel democracy and perceive Georgia as Europe. Their decision to have their citizens refraining from travelling to Georgia reminds me the Soviet approaches”, Akaki Minashvili, the chairman of parliamentary committee for foreign relations said.

Regardless of the Lavrov`s interdiction, the number of Russian tourists travelling to Georgia is rising as more and more people are crossing the boundary at Larsi checkpoint.