Overview
- The Russian Interests Section at the Swiss embassy in Georgia reported more frequent refusals of entry for Russian citizens based on the birthplace listed in their passports.
- Birthplace entries cited include the Ukrainian SSR, Abkhazian ASSR, South Ossetia, Crimea, the DPR, the LPR, and Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
- State Duma member Dmitry Belik urged Georgia not to follow what he called russophobic pressure and warned that the practice could undercut recent progress in bilateral ties.
- Duma member Mikhail Sheremet labeled the reported refusals discriminatory and compared them to a witch hunt, arguing the policy would damage Georgia’s economic prospects.
- RIA Novosti noted Georgia is among the top New Year destinations for Russians according to Ostrovok, while the reports included no official response from Georgian authorities.