Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri declares that statements on the arrival of large numbers of Russians in Georgia are false.
According to him, 20 thousand Russian citizens have entered the country since the beginning of the war, and among them are those who used Georgia as a transit.
"There are talks that large number of Russian citizens has entered Georgia; This is not true. By 2020, the border has been completely closed. If we compare 2019 and 2021, 70% of that number has entered the country. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, over 20,000 Russian citizens have arrived, while in 2019, 40,000 citizens - came. Among them are people living in the North Caucasus - Chechens, Dagestanis, Ingush - who have been stranded due to flight delays and are now renting buses in Turkey; They come with their families and move to Russia through the Larsi checkpoint.
This is also considered as the entry of Russian citizens, but they are leaving the country ... about 3 thousand people have entered, who have not left yet ... ", - says Vakhtang Gomelauri.
