Tbilisi responds to Russian FM's statment

The recommendation of the Russian Foreign Ministry for Russian citizens to refrain from traveling to Georgia shows that the authorities are against not only the Georgian government, but also good relations and friendship between the Russian and Georgian people, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry Federation issued a message to the media on April 12, which calls on Russian citizens to refrain from traveling to Georgia, citing the fact that they are allegedly subjected to harassment on the basis of the law 'On Occupied Territories'.

The statement of the Georgian Foreign Ministry said that the initiative of President Saakashvili with respect to the unilateral abolition of visa requirements for Russian citizens has caused a sharp increase in the number wanting to stay in Georgia.

'The Russian authorities were obviously confused and at first refused to reciprocate under the absurd pretext and then tried and are now trying to intimidate its citizens, the document says.

"We are confident that this attempt of Russian authorities will be futile and Russian citizens who are going to come to Georgia, will be convinced, as well as those who have been here, that such a trip to Georgia is not associated with any risk and will remain a pleasant memory for them," Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

Military actions were launched on Georgian territory, South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later Russian troops occupied the city of Tskhinvali and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognised republics as being occupied territories.

/Trend/