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Crisis in Russian-Georgian relations

Georgia’s tourism industry lost $60 mln due to decline in Russian tourists in July

Russia is still among the top 15 countries by the number of trips to Georgia

© Artiom Geodakyan/TASS

TBILISI, August 12. /TASS/. The losses of Georgia’s tourism industry in July amounted to about $60 mln after the Russian authorities decided to impose a temporary ban on direct flights from Russia to Georgia, Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze told journalists on Monday.

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Georgian Airways lost about $25 mln on ban of flights to Russia

"As of July, the damage to the tourism sector amounted to $60 mln. However in June, a very good trend was registered in Adjara (the Black Sea region of Georgia) — tourism grew by 40% on the previous year. Today, it is important for us to support small and medium enterprises operating in the tourism sector," Bakhtadze said.

On August 7, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Mariam Kvirivishvili said that Georgia’s tourism industry had lost at least $44.3 million due to a drop in the number of Russian tourists in July.

According to official statistics, in July, Russian citizens made about 160,000 visits to Georgia, which is 6.4% fewer that in July 2018. Despite the recession, Russia managed to maintain its position on the list of 15 countries by the number of visits to Georgia this July, being ranked second.

Anti-Russian provocations and flight ban

On June 20, 2019, several thousand protesters amassed near the national parliament in downtown Tbilisi, demanding the resignation of the interior minister and the parliament’s speaker, and tried to storm it. The protests were sparked by an uproar over the Russian delegation’s participation in the 26th session of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO). On June 20, IAO President Sergei Gavrilov opened the session in the Georgian parliament. Opposition lawmakers were outraged by the fact that Gavrilov addressed the event from the parliament speaker’s seat. In protest, they did not allow the IAO session to continue. Shortly after the turmoil in Tbilisi, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili branded Russia an enemy and an occupier on her Facebook page, but later on said that nothing threatened Russian tourists in the country.

To ensure Russians’ safety, the country's President Vladimir Putin signed a decree, which imposed a temporary ban on passenger flights to Georgia from July 8. On June 22, Russia’s Transport Ministry announced that starting on July 8, flights to Russia by Georgian airlines would be halted.

Finland invites NATO to deploy reconnaissance drone base on its territory — yle

The media notes that due to the nature of the operations, the reconnaissance base needs strong military protection around it, both from attacks using conventional weapons and from electronic warfare

No relation between US election, Russia’s change of ambassador — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov recalled that Anatoly Antonov had worked in Washington for quite a while

US aims to shift Armenia toward pro-Western path using Ukraine, Moldova strategies — SVR

The goal is to make Armenia’s social and political processes as anti-Russian as possible, the service argued

IN BRIEF: What is known about new UK sanctions against Russia

The British authorities have imposed restrictive measures against the Afrika Corps paramilitary organization, allegedly linked to Russia

Multipolar world to embrace all countries, peoples on equal footing, says Putin

The countries’ aspiration for cooperation already helps overcome the most acute situations, the Russian president stressed

Russia ready to restore relations with US, it never spoiled them — Putin

"The president-elect of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, has been speaking in roughly the same vein. It remains to be seen how this will function in reality," Putin concluded

Trump to pressure multiple countries to end conflict in Ukraine, expert says

"Wars suck the political oxygen (and financial resources) from other administration initiatives, so the goal is to find solutions quickly," John Kavulich added

Trump vows to settle conflict in Ukraine before his inauguration

He also pledged to prevent World War Three

Russia ready for talks, immune to pressure — Putin

"This is what we have called and are still calling on all participants in international communication to do," the president went on to say

Ancient Greek artifact unearthed at Crimean bridge construction site

Such objects have never been found in the northern Black Sea area before, according to the head of the underwater unit of Russia’s Academy of Sciences

Press review: Trump’s victory stuns investors while Russia’s economy holds strong

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 7th

IN BRIEF: US news media call election for Trump, oldest man to be elected president

According to NBC News, Trump is winning the election after the victory in Wisconsin allowed him to overcome the threshold of 270 electoral votes

Putin considers premature to talk about common BRICS currency

Other variants are impossible and harmful, the Russian leader added

Countries of collective West virtually live on credit — Shoigu

"An increasing number of countries are abandoning the dollar and the euro as instruments of mutual payments," the Russian Security Council secretary pointed out

BRICS able to find solutions to most complex issues — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the place and significance of BRICS today and its ability to influence the global agenda are determined by objective factors

Putin announces era of radical, revolutionary changes

As the Russian leader noted, the society gets "to not only comprehend, but be direct participants of the extremely complex processes"

Russia doesn’t expect sanctions to be lifted soon after Trump's election victory — expert

Alexander Shokhin touched upon the formula that Russian big business follows in relation to improvement of relations with the West

Russia waging financial wars with states that imposed sanctions on it — Finance Minister

Anton Siluanov noted that Russia turned out to be ready for such challenges

Russia says its troops mined, blocked one route used by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region

According to the ministry, soldiers of the regiment's reconnaissance company with the call signs Porsh and Pochta destroyed the enemy that was covering the passage in the engineering barriers and moved forward to fulfill the combat mission

Liberation of Tsukurino in DPR to help tighten pincers around Kurakhovo — sources

Control of this community allows Russian troops to straighten the front line in this area

Some find Trump’s election win shocking because of legacy media’s lies, Musk says

The United States held its presidential election on November 5

Russian troops liberate Kremennaya Balka community in Donbass region — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 430 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Press review: BRICS membership may triple and German radical 'coup plot' foiled

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 8th

Putin expects next 20 years to be even more difficult

"Experts point to the threats stemming from new regional conflicts, global epidemics, the complicated and controversial ethical aspects of interaction between humans and artificial intelligence, as well as to the way traditions and progress go together," the head of state noted

NATO prepares for open armed confrontation with Belarus and Russia — top brass

According to Major General Vladimir Kupriyanyuk, "the collective West continues to demonstrate an increase in the intensity of activities aimed at early preparations for military action"

Russia open to dialogue with US if Washington takes initiative — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat described the problems facing Russia-US relations as "very deep," stemming from the perception by the American elite that any rivals in the international arena should be suppressed unless someone questions the US global dominance

Syrian soldier killed, six more wounded in shelling by militants

In the past 24 hours, militants have shelled several settlements in Syria's regions of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo, head of the Russian reconciliation center Sergei Solomatin said

West’s attempts to ban Russian diamonds may destroy entire global industry

The ban of G7 countries to import Russian raw and polished diamonds may completely ruin chain of supplies existing for decades, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev said

Western failure, Kiev's terrorism: what Shoigu told top security officials at CIS meeting

The Russian Security Council secretary pointed out that Kiev's aggression in the Kursk Region was aimed at seizing the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant

Finland invites NATO to deploy reconnaissance drone base on its territory — yle

The media notes that due to the nature of the operations, the reconnaissance base needs strong military protection around it, both from attacks using conventional weapons and from electronic warfare

Humanity faces risk of plunging into anarchy, loss of values — Putin

"Ever more often democracy is beginning to be interpreted as the rule of the minority rather than the majority," the Russian president said

Medvedev says any new uprising in Ukraine would seek to execute current leaders

The Russian politician said the goal of Zelensky and his team is to stay in power in the country as long as possible

Russia not rejecting dollar use — Putin

Russia is not struggling with the US currency but is thinking of creating new instruments in response to new trends of global economic development, he added

Europe could become main rival for US, Lukashenko says

The Belarusian president believes that the US will continue to put pressure on Europe, as it needs no competitors, but he did not rule out the possibility of the European Union (EU) restoring normal relations with Minsk and Moscow

Press review: Lavrov embarks on EU visit and Russia permits individual crypto mining

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 1st

Repelling counterattacks, striking reserves, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Units of the battlegroup continued offensive operations, defeating Ukrainian formations in the areas of the settlements of Daryino, Leonidovo, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka and Plekhovo

Talks between Putin, Trump before inauguration possible — Kremlin

The United States Presidential Inauguration will be held on January 20, 2025

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Russian diplomat says Ukraine took back just 279 POWs, although 935 were offered

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called such actions of the Kiev regime "political tourism on the blood of its own citizens, its own servicemen"

NATO concentrates information warfare forces on Russia, Belarus — CSTO Secretary-General

"The strategic situation worsened after Finland and Sweden joined the North Atlantic Alliance," Imangali Tasmagambetov pointed out

US extends export restrictions against Rossiya Airlines for a year

According to the US authorities, the airline allegedly continued violate US export restrictions imposed on Russia

Dollar use against Russia giving rise to other countries’ concerns

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "not all of the countries are ready so far to close interaction as regards creation of some payment systems"

South Africa takes over BRICS chairmanship

The South African Foreign Ministry’s spokesman told that the country planned to maintain the group’s effective activities during its 2023 chairmanship

Billions needed to rebuild, destroy enemy: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 250 servicemen, eight fighting infantry vehicles, including two US-made Bradley IFVs, six armored combat vehicles, two artillery guns, two mortars and eight motor vehicles

FACTBOX: What we know about collapse of ruling coalition in Germany

The German chancellor said he would call for a confidence vote on January 15, 2025, in the Bundestag, which could trigger a snap election before late March

US to pressure Europe, which may turn to Minsk, Moscow — Belarusian leader

The Belarusian president did not rule out that in the future, the EU might unite and begin collaborating with Belarus and Russia

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

US likely to withdraw from Paris Agreement under Trump’s reign — expert

Igbal Guliev noted that Donald Trump "now offers an ambitious plan to boost hydrocarbon production in the country and keep fuel prices at a low level, promising to become an 'energy president' of the United States"

Press review: Putin urges Syrian-Turkish talks while ASEAN rejects NATO-style alliance

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 6th

Trump’s election to facilitate real talks on peace in Ukraine — Vucic

Previously, The Wall Street Journal said that Donald Trump’s potential victory in the election will create even greater uncertainty in regards to Ukraine

Kazakhstan receives invitation to become BRICS partner country — Lavrov

Moscow is interested in developing various forms of interaction with Astana, the top Russian diplomat said

Putin says West supported al-Qaida when it fought against Russia

According to Putin, Russia’s goal at the time was to use all means to hold the country together

World needs Russia regardless of decisions by 'Western bosses' — Putin

The Russian president noted that even a trained athlete "cannot swim against the current, no matter what tricks and doping he might use"

Russian missile-armed Ufa submarine makes call to Indonesian port

The Ufa is heading from the Baltic Sea to join the Pacific Fleet

Russian troops eliminate over 40 Ukrainian servicemen near Krasny Liman, top brass says

Three armored personnel carriers and two pickups destroyed in the Russian artillery attack

Putin expresses readiness to engage in discussions with Trump

Earlier, when talking about a potential call from Trump, he noted that he would not consider it a disgrace to call Trump himself

Russian strike UAV wipes out Ukrainian tank in borderline Kursk area

"After the exact location coordinates of the enemy’s combat vehicle were determined and confirmed, a decision was made to deliver a pinpoint strike," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement

Putin's speech at Valdai Discussion Forum this year lasts twice as long as last year's one

On average, the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club, including Vladimir Putin's speech and answering questions, lasts about three hours

Putin calls racist stereotyped ideas of 'civilized West,' 'barbarism' of other peoples

The Russian leader added that a sustainable international order can be based only on the principles of sovereign equality

US can stop conflict in Ukraine quickly because it is involved in it — Kremlin spokesman

"America is the country, which can bring the conflict around Ukraine to a close very quickly, because this is a country that is involved in this conflict directly and indirectly," Dmitry Peskov said

BRICS expansion to yield global gains for Russia, China — South African scholar

It is noted that politically, BRICS is a common forum that could bolster Russia and China’s positions in the Security Council of the United Nations

If Trump stops wars, he will deserve Nobel Prize, says Lukashenko

At the same time, according to the Belarusian leader, not everything will depend on the US president-elect

Russia has repeatedly stopped those who pressed for world domination — Putin

The head of state recalled that some had already tried to ruin Russia and to eliminate everything that remained after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Kiev conceals true casualties from Russian strike on Motor Sich Factory

Vladimir Rogov emphasized that all the victims were involved in the production of drone components

Kremlin spokesman keeps quiet when asked if Russia to be present at Trump's inauguration

Officially, the results have not yet been summarized, but according to US media, Republican Donald Trump, who held the presidency in 2017-2021, won about 300 electoral votes, thus exceeding by far the necessary minimum of 270

Russia ready to expand parliamentary interaction with Republika Srpska — top senator

"We are very close in a spiritual and cultural sense," Valentina Matviyenko noted

Russia to upgrade Trans-Siberian railway for 4-5 years

This will allow to launch development of around 10 major deposits of different natural resources

Israel's new defense minister meets with chief of staff — news outlet

On Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister announced the decision to dismiss Gallant as defense minister and appoint Foreign Minister Israel Katz in his place

IN BRIEF: Congratulations on Trump's victory in US election

TASS has compiled congratulatory messages and reactions to Donald Trump's apparent win

Democrats blame Biden for Harris’ election loss — report

The party "needs a complete reboot," hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said

Russia seeks to bolster international progress, aspiration for durable peace, says Putin

"It is the West’s monopoly, which arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union and which it gained for some time at the end of the 20th century that is under threat," the Russian leader said

Russia ready to supply Su-57E fifth-generation fighter to foreign partners — UAC

The aircraft will take part in the airshow’s flight demonstration program while visitors will also be able to see the aircraft at the show’s static display

Russia cuts military spending for first time over past 19 years — report

World military expenditure reached $1739 bln in 2017, the highest level since the end of the Cold War

Trump’s election win to have no impact on Houthis’ position, Ansar Allah leader says

"Some Arab regimes and their voices are talking about Trump in a bid to intimidate our people," Abdul Malik al-Houthi said

Three-day mourning announced in Vorkuta over mine accident

There were 26 people in the accident zone, 18 of them were killed, three were rescued and taken to hospital, the condition of one miner is very grave

Ukraine’s army chief preparing troop retreat from Kursk area — lawmaker

Maryana Bezuglaya also proposed that Syrsky himself stay in the Kursk Region

Gap between 'golden billion' and rest of the world fraught with migration problems — Putin

According to the Russian president, almost all developed countries are now facing "an increasingly less controlled flow of those who hope to improve their financial situation"

OSCE faces deep crisis It may not overcome — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat emphasized that as long as the organization exists, Russia and Kazakhstan will continue to "closely coordinate their actions there"

Over 1 mln Moscow residents vote online in mayoral election

More than 13% of the capital's residents have already participated in the online voting

Zelensky says he needs no help to arrange talks with Russia

The Ukrainian president mentioned that Kiev had prepared its own settlement plan and intended to continue pushing for its implementation

World is moving toward 'polyphony' that lets all voices be heard — Putin

"Those who are in the habit of performing solo and who wish to perform exclusively solo further on will have to get used to the new world score," the Russian president added

Americans were on the Moon but footage may have been filmed in advance — Russian cosmonaut

Sergey Prokopyev pointed out that the fact that US astronauts did land on the Moon "is confirmed by automatic probes and cannot be subjected to doubt"

Kremlin spokesman dismisses rumors about Russian planes with incendiary devices

"Frankly speaking, I do not know anyone who takes such publications seriously," Dmitry Peskov noted

Russia does not perceive West as enemy through 'either-us-or-them' lens — Putin

"The former hegemons, who have been in the habit of ruling the world since colonial times, are increasingly surprised to discover that they are no longer being obeyed," the Russian leader stated

Prolongation of Ukrainian conflict narrows options for diplomacy — Erdogan

"The negativity, caused by the war in Ukraine gets exacerbated every day," the Turkish leader noted

Kremlin calls reports on Trump team's alleged Ukraine plan 'abstract'

"It looks just like The Wall Street Journal's plan for Ukraine," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Russian diplomat praises Trump’s recognition that US must address domestic issues first

According to Maria Zakharova, Donald Trump’s position is radically different from the ideology imposed by "ultra-liberal circles"

During 'honeymoon' with the West Russia became object for pumping out dividends — Kremlin

"In fact, it was a neocolonial regime, all other countries were squeezed dry, all other countries were effectively turned into an object from which dividends were pumped out," Dmitry Peskov stated

US received $12 trillion lately owing to dollar’s role as global currency — Putin

"The United States received for no apparent reason $12 trillion over the last decade, on account of issuing and giving. These funds then go as a rule to their banks, to their financial system, and also clipping coupons, having gains from that," Putin noted

Bank of Russia sets dollar rate at 98.07 rubles for November 8

The official euro rate was reduced by fourteen kopecks to 105.5679 rubles

Medicine, food and energy security should be ‘factor out’ of any conflict — Putin

According to the Russian president, the lag of many countries and societies in terms of socio-economic development is a complex phenomenon

Orban hails Trump victory in US election as 'much needed' for world

The Hungarian prime minister openly supported Trump in the US bipartisan struggle and made no secret that he was counting on his return to the White House

Residents of Kursk Region border areas describe living under rubble with no food

The resident of the borderline Kursk Region explained that her family was rescued by Russian troops

Assassination attempt on Putin mentioned by Budanov prepared with US money — Russian MFA

"Yesterday one of chiefs of the Kiev regime Buganov openly admitted that the Ukrainian intelligence service prepared assassination attempts on the Russian president. This assassination attempt was again prepared with US money," Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel

Russia managed to reach 4th - 5th position by GDP globally in 24 years

"This is the country that survived on fractures of the Soviet Union and became the successor to that once-great power," Dmitry Peskov underlined

Kremlin names two reasons preventing Putin from congratulating Trump

Earlier, Dmitry Peskov also said the Russian president had no plans for congratulating Donald Trump

Putin orders to launch Chukotka nuclear-powered icebreaker

Chief executive of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Andrey Puchkov reported to the president that the ice-breaker is ready

Western plot to strategically defeat Russia failed — Shoigu

It is noted that the countries where color revolutions, supported by the West, took place had experienced "decreased living standards, weakened economic potential, the uncontrolled drain of capital and resources, and, in the worst-case scenario, the country becoming an instrument for implementing the interests of Western elites"

S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

Victor Gumenny said the advanced systems may solve the tasks of air-space defence and may fight hypersonic weapons

Trump to offer deal on Ukraine unacceptable to Russia, conflict to go on — expert

In his comments on the results of the US presidential election, Dmitry Suslov noted that Trump "will indeed try to quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine"