by Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK
Tbilisi may soon start the trial against the 52-year old Russian citizen who was arrested at the Tbilisi Airport in mid-February for illegal border crossing 3 years ago.
The main evidence in the case is the stamp he got in his passport win Abkhazia in 2009. He did not visit the state from Georgia, but used the Psou crossing office on the Russian border. The Georgian law on occupied territories forbids use of that crossing point. The Russian was invited to Georgia and did not about the law forbidding visits.
On the one hand, Georgia will not profit from scaring tourists away, but on the other, there are no plans to lift the law, because that would mean recognition of Abkhaz and South Ossetian independence.
This is why Rodionov had been put to a prison in Tbilisi where he spent about one and a half months. He was released on bail of $1200. He admitted guilt, the tourist paid a large fine and was allowed to return home.
In other words, there was no trial. Judging by statements Rodionov made after the first court session, he is more disappointed with Russian border guards: “Why didn’t they warn me, knowing that I am on my way to Tbilisi, looking through my passport, that I would be arrested for visiting Abkhazia with the Abkhaz stamp as evidence?”
Georgia recommends Russians “to choose the right way to visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia”, i.e. first visit Georgia and then visit “Georgian regions”. In reality it is absolutely impossible, because tourists would never be allowed to take such a path by Russian border guards on the border of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Georgia.
There is another unofficial piece of advice that has never been announced publicly, but meets political and legal realities: Russians visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia and then willing to visit Georgia should not take documents that may serve as evidence of violating the Georgian law. In other words, you need a second passport.
The number of Russian tourists to Georgia grows every year, especially after President Saakashvili lifted the visa regime with Russia, Abkhazia has seen millions of Russian tourists. Many have chosen the “right path” to cope with the problem – they got several passports.
