The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently made a statement calling on its fellow citizens not to visit Russia, as it represents a danger to their lives. As an example of the danger that each Georgian can face in Russia, the ministry recalled the incident of Gela Bliadze, the Georgian killed in Moscow in June. According to the police, the murder was a hate crime.
“Russia is a country of state-supported terrorism and xenophobia, where human rights activists, lawyers and journalists are persecuted and assassinated, where a court is unable to find the truth and punish criminals,” the statement by the Georgian foreign ministry reads.
Commenting on the statement, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nino Kalandadze said that the Georgian authorities are not going to prohibit Georgian citizens visiting Russia, but advise not to do so, as visiting the country in such circumstances is unsafe for Georgians.
In order to struggle with xenophobia and discrimination, Georgia has started several legal actions against Russia in the last few years, both at the European Court for Human Rights and the International Court in the Hague.
Experts don’t believe that the latest incident will lead to any substantial changes in bilateral relations. Georgia will probably continue to accuse Russia and draw the international community’s attention to the matter, but nothing will come of it.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
Moscow and Tbilisi make official statements
However, Georgians and Russians pay no attention to them
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