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Saakashvili opposes arrival in Georgia by Russian State Duma deputies

He criticized the actions by the Border Guard Service and the Interior Ministry that allowed the entry in Georgia by Russian State Duma deputies

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

TBILISI, July 8 (Itar-Tass) - President Mikheil Saakashvili has come against visits to Georgia by State Duma deputies, who voted for the country’s split in 2008 and for recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In the speech aired on TV on Monday, Saakashvili said he “lauds and considers positive the arrival in Georgia by Russian tourists and athletes”.

The Georgian president said earlier, he had initiated easing visa formalities for Russian citizens. He criticized the actions by the Border Guard Service and the Interior Ministry that allowed the entry in Georgia by Russian State Duma deputies.

On July 7 late at night after the match between Dynamo Tbilisi and Dynamo Moscow ended members of the Svobodnaya Zona youth movement protested against the arrival in Georgia by Russian parliamentarians. The Georgian Interior Ministry reported that three protesters had been detained “for disorderly conduct” and “resistance to police”. Protesters shut off traffic and declined to obey to police’s orders to move to the pavement.

The Georgian Dream ruling coalition has said lately that Mikheil Saakashvili’s statements “prevent Russia and Georgia from improving relations”.

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