Russia permits import of Georgian dairy products

Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision Agency Rosselkhoznadzor approved 15 Georgian enterprises to import milk and dairy products to Russia.

Rosselkhoznadzor's Yulia Melano stated that the enterprises have been added to the list of companies that will be able to deliver their goods to the Eurasian Economic Union.

She also allegedly stated that the decision was reached following consultations between Rosselkhoznadzor Director Sergey Dankvert and Zurab Chekurashvili, Director of the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture's National Agency of Food.

The Russian regulator also relaxed limitations on the delivery of certain items from Turkey, China, Moldova, Serbia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.

Kyiv calling on Georgian government to distance itself from Russia

Kyiv is calling on the Georgian Government to publicly distance itself from Russia’s decision to allow the import of Georgian milk and dairy products.

"We feel that promoting commercial links with Russia, whose military forces are bombing peaceful Ukrainian cities with missiles and bombs, killing innocent civilians, including children, is completely unacceptable," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

The Ukrainian MFA added, "doing business with Russian firms provides Russia with greater resources to pursue its heinous war on Ukraine, and the profit so earned is steeped in the blood of the murdered Ukrainian citizens."

Russian media trying to find refuge in Georgia

Some Russian independent journalists fled to Georgia, considering it to be the safest short-term refuge because to its pro-Western reputation.

Mikhail Fishman, Dozhd news anchor, was unable to seek asylum in Georgia. On March 5, border officers at Tbilisi International Airport refused to let him in.

"I landed in Georgia with my 14-year-old and 4-year-old daughters. They let them in, but I was instructed to wait," Fishman said. His oldest daughter, a third child, had already moved to Georgia. He was denied admission without reason after an hour and put on an aircraft to Baku. Fishman, who has visited Georgia several times, believes the refusal is connected to his professional activities. 

The Russian journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze from Dozhd said, "this was a political decision. I see the Georgian government attempting to say to Moscow, 'see, we're not letting certain individuals in for your sake.'"

Garibashvili on Ukraine and economy

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili restated his support for Ukraine during a cabinet meeting on March 7 and discussed Georgia's "exceptional" economic growth.

Georgia has supported Ukraine "on every international level," according to PM Garibashvili, and has delivered 140 tonnes of humanitarian aid. "Of course, this process will continue, and we will give additional help to Ukraine," he continued.

"We all find the war utterly intolerable," he said, adding that "we all pray for the war and the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine to come to an end soon. Once again, we hope that the entire international community will do all necessary to bring the war to a close as quickly as possible," the Prime Minister stated.

"We will maintain peace in the country, security, and stability for our folks despite these challenges and provocations," he said.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister also discussed Georgia's 18% real GDP growth in January. He claimed that the rate is "unprecedented in the entire region, as well as in Europe. We're growing in every way," he said, "so it's critical that we don't slow down now." 

He challenged Economy and Finance Ministers Levan Davitashvili and Lasha Khutsishvili, respectively, to engage in more active communication with the private sector in the face of "major challenges in the region."

Reports of influx of Russian citizens dismissed by Georgia

Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili addressed public worries about a probable inflow of Russian residents as a result of international sanctions placed on Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Minister Davitashvili stated that approximately 20-25 thousand Russian nationals have entered Georgia, which is comparable to pre-pandemic tourist numbers from 2020. However, he did not define the era in which the number was recorded.

As a result, rumours that "a huge number of (Russian) people are going to Georgia and that it includes risks" were refuted by the Economy Minister of Georgia.

Minister Davitashvili said that Georgia sought to exhibit its democracy and openness to persons "who did not want to live under the regime" when the previous United National Movement administration waived the visa requirement for Russians in 2012.

He emphasised that the GD Government has the same goal as the Russian government and ruled out the prospect of a visa regime for Russian citizens.

Moreover, the Georgian State Security Service (SSG) dismissed allegations of unchecked Russian and Belarusian influxes as "deliberate deception," insisting that the country's security situation is under complete control.

It alleged that the "public is being scared" because diversionists or those tied to terrorism may be among the tourists.

Meanwhile, the SSG stated that it has not witnessed any Russian, Belarusian, or other foreign people engaging in actions that may jeopardise Georgia's security.

"The security situation in the nation remains peaceful and secure as a consequence of implemented actions," the SSG stated.

Georgia hosts a pro-Ukraine, anti-government rally

According to media reports, police detained at least 12 protestors during a March 7 demonstration in Tbilisi over government leaders' questionable response to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Shame Movement founders Giorgi Mzhavanadze, Giga Makarashvili, Nodar Rukhadze, and Zuka Berdzenishvili, Mtavari Arkhi TV personality Bachi Valishvili, and civic activist Nata Peradze were among those detained.

Peradze claimed she and two other women were freed early on March 8, while the male demonstrators were detained in detention.

Protesters gathered outside the Parliament building in downtown Tbilisi, then went to the adjoining Government Chancellery. Toilet paper was thrown over the police barriers constructed in front of the building by some demonstrators.

Detentions occurred just after the event had finished, according to the Shame Movement, with four of its activists seized.

According to the organisation, the demonstrators retaliated by throwing flour at police officers, resulting in more detentions.

On March 7, protesters asked that Georgia's airspace be closed to Russia, that Russian-owned media be barred from broadcasting, and that Russian citizens be subjected to a visa regime.

Patriarch of Georgia about the operation in Ukraine

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II called on the flock to do "everything possible to end the bloodshed and war."

“There is a war going on in some countries, we are mourning. We pray, we try not to take part. Our people have collected food, clothes to help people, but this is not enough, we will try more ... We regret the current situation, but we must do everything to stop the bloodshed, stop the war, so that people find a peaceful life. We must do everything possible for peace to reign,” the Georgian Patriarch said during a sermon on forgiveness.

“May the Lord forgive you, the sins of all Georgia, committed of your own free will or involuntarily, may you be forgiven by God’s grace,” he said.

Earlier, the Patriarchate of Georgia declared its readiness to aid citizens of Ukraine who are unable to leave Georgia for their homeland.

On February 28, it became known that 60 residents of Georgia were unable to fly from Tbilisi International Airport to Ukraine. They were going to join the Ukrainian army and the authorities did not allow a private airliner to fly to Georgia, which was then supposed to fly to Ukraine. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal called on his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili to allow the Georgian military to fly to Ukraine, but there was no response from the head of the Georgian government.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled Ukrainian Ambassador to Georgia Igor Dolgov for consultations.

“We are immediately withdrawing the ambassador from Georgia for obstructing volunteers who want to help us, for an immoral position on sanctions,” Zelenskyy said.

However, then the Georgian media reported that the volunteers got where they wanted, and, according to unconfirmed reports, 15 of them had already died.

On March 5, the official representative of the People's Militia of the DPR, Eduard Basurin, provided evidence that mercenaries were fighting on the side of Ukraine, namely from Georgia.

“Here lies a bulletproof vest, a helmet from a dead militant from Georgia. He probably wanted to earn easy money, but he earned himself a grave here, on the land of Donbas,” Basurin said.