TBILISI, July 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russian citizen and French cinematic star Gerard Depardieu “has violated Georgia’s laws,” Deputy State Minister for Reintegration Katevan Tsikhelashvili told reporters on Wednesday.
She said that by “entering the Abkhazian region from the side of the Russian Federation (from Sochi - ed), Depardieu violated Georgian laws”.
“Depardieu is a citizen of the Russian Federation and his trip to Sukhum was orchestrated by the Russian side. I strongly doubt that he understands the context of the conflict in Abkazia and the essence of the events that took place there,” she marked.
As Itar-Tass has reported earlier, Depardieu visited Sukhum on July 1 and met with Abkhazian leader Alexander Ankvab. He said he had learned “about Abkhazia when he met with late President Sergei Bagapsh in St. Petersburg”. “Being in Sochi in January of this year, I learned that Abkhazia is very near and decided to visit that country by all means,” the actor said. He said he knew “about the war in Abkazia 20 years ago, and saw its traces on the way to Sukhum”.
Welcoming the French guest, Ankvab said for his part that “Abkhazians know Depardieu perfectly well, which he could make sure of walking along the embankment of the capital”.