Politics is politics, but average people still have their interests. These interests do not fit the declaration of the ruling parties quite often. Many Russians still visit Georgia in spite of political disagreements and visa obstacles.
VK journalist Oleg Kushaty talked to a famous Russian poet Igor Irtenyev after his trip to Georgia:
-Igor, nowadays there is much talks about tourist future of the North Caucasus. Exactly in the republics of North Caucasus, not in the region of Mineralnye Vody where the infrastructure has existed for a long time. There are huge projects for ski resorts. For instance, "Mamison" which will be located in the mountains of North Ossetia, near Georgian border. Would you like to visit the Caucasus?
-You mean the Russian Caucasus?
- Only the Russian.
- I would not say it really attracts me. I am not a downhill skier, but my wife is fond of it. We go to Georgia where we own an apartment close to a ski lift. The conditions are much better there. In general the Caucasus Mountains are not for downhill skiing, at least compared to the Alps. For the same money with much less risk you can go to the Alps. So the perspectives of downhill skiing development at the Russian Caucasus are very poor for me.
- Why you think the Russian authorities started talking about tourism in Caucasus?
- Probably they think that the region should be developed. But the risk is quite high. All the time something happens there. By the way, my daughter, a student, and her coursemate went to Kabardino-Balkaria last year. It seems to be quiet region. I was worried anyway though could not forbid her to go there. But her trip there was really good and she came back very impressed. To tell the truth after 5 days at the same place Swedish or some tourists were attacked and robbed. I think the situation is quite similar in all of the Caucasus.
- You said you go to Georgia. It means you are not a typical Russian.
The Russians are afraid of going to Georgia now.
- But I am not afraid, I have plenty of friends there. Usually I go to Tbilisi one or two times a year. As for safety and life conditions the situation is really different there. Georgia is a fast developing country.
- Does not it seem strange to you, you say the situation in Georgia is getting better but at the same time there is much more malcontent there? More opposition, more demonstrations against the government.
- It is a question of political culture. The opposition is not suppressed there as in Russia, Georgia went much further on the democratic path than Russia.
