Russian conductor Mikhail Arkadiev receives Georgian citizenship

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has personally handed over a passport of Georgian citizen to the famous Russian conductor Mikhail Arkadiev. The ceremony took place on September 15 after the concert, which the conductor gave at the Conservatory of Tbilisi.

"The Georgian citizenship is not a sign of ethnic affiliation. In my opinion, it is the idea of freedom and free people; and on this basis all free people have the right to become citizens of a free country – citizens of Georgia," the "GHN" Agency quotes Mr Saakashvili as saying.

According to the press service of the presidential administration, the Russian conductor had personally appealed to the Georgian leader asking to grant him the citizenship of Georgia, the IA "News-Georgia" reports.

"I'm for the first time in Georgia, but in my soul I've always been here. I love your arts and culture. I want to take Georgian citizenship, since your country is developing very fast," allegedly said the conductor. "I regret that Russia lacks the democracy that you have here," the "Newsru.com" quotes Mr Arkadiev as saying with reference to the Georgian TV Company "Rustavi-2".

Later Mr Arkadiev explained that he had not asked the Georgian authorities to award him with the Georgian citizenship. According to his version, the initiative originated from President Saakashvili. Besides, Arkadiev assured that he was not going to give up his Russian citizenship, the "Echo Moskvy" reports.