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Crisis in Russian-Georgian relations

Economic measures against Georgia are preventive, speaker says

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reiterated that Russia holds the first place in the consumption of the Georgian wine and mineral and sparkling water, as well as the number of tourists

© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

OSCOW, July 9. /TASS/. The imminent special economic measures against Georgia will be preventive, and Georgia’s authorities have to explain to extremists that provocations against Russia are unacceptable, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Tuesday.

"Our position is not only justified but is also preventive, since there are a great number of other opportunities to put those who went too far in their place and who do not understand that this is just not right," the speaker said at the chamber’s session.

He reiterated that Russia ranks first in the volume of Georgia-bound money transfers, and first in the consumption of Georgian wine and mineral water, as well as the number of tourists "who go to Georgia, spend money there and create new jobs."

At Tuesday’s session, the State Duma unanimously decided to denounce the current anti-Russian incitement in Georgia and suggested responding to the provocations with some economic measures. The lower chamber asked the cabinet of ministers to present the corresponding proposals to the president.

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Putin says no need to impose sanctions on Tbilisi, cites respect for Georgian people

Initially, the chamber discussed some motions on banning imports of Georgian wine and mineral water to Russia, as well as freezing money transfers from Russia to Georgia, but then it was decided to leave it for the cabinet of ministers to decide on specific economic measures.

Such steps were suggested in light of the escalation of Russophobic hysteria in Georgia, in particular provocations on the Rustavi-2 TV channel, where the presenter Georgy Gabuniya used foul language to insult Russia’s authorities for more than a minute on the live broadcast. “This issue is in the hands of Georgian politicians," Volodin said in a conversation with journalists later.

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