Russia's MFA criticizes ban for Luzhkov to enter Georgia

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation has reacted to Georgia's putting Yuri Luzhkov, a former Mayor of Moscow, on the list of undesirable persons. The Russia's MFA has treated it as a provocation and reminded Russians of the risks associated with travelling to Georgia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 7, it became known that Yuri Luzhkov came to Georgia. Georgian public activists expressed their indignation about the fact that Yuri Luzhkov was not brought to responsibility in accordance with the Law "On the Occupied Territories" in force in the country for visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On May 10, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) stated that the Criminal Code does not allow prosecuting Yuri Luzhkov in connection with the expiry of the period of limitations of the violation of the Law "On the Occupied Territories". On May 11, Shalva Khutsishvili, Deputy Head of the Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), stated that Yuri Luzhkov would be banned from entering the country. Mr Luzhkov himself treated the decision as "unreasonable," but promised to obey.

"The official Tbilisi continues its systematic provocations, undermining the process of improving relations with Russia," says the comment posted today on the website of Russia's MFA.

The Georgian authorities announced the putting of Yuri Luzhkov on the list of undesirable persons after he had left the country; however, they hesitated applying the sanctions of the "Law on Occupied Territories" directly to him "for understandable reasons," the MFA officials believe. Speaking about risks of visiting Georgia, they refer to the experience of some other Russian citizens, who had been recently prosecuted in this country.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.