Human rights non-governmental organizations in Georgia have asked the country’s authorities to immediately introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens. “We believe that control over the entry of Russian citizens and companies into Georgia is a matter of national security for the country,” said 19 Georgian NGOs, whose joint appeal on Wednesday, August 17, was quoted by the internet portal Novosti- Georgia.

NGOs pointed to Georgia’s use to mitigate the effect of sanctions

Georgian human rights activists and activists have pointed to a sharp increase in the number of Russians arriving in their country since the beginning of this year. Furthermore, since late February 2022, around 6,400 Russian companies have been registered in Georgia following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, seven times more than in 2021, they noted. At the same time, the authors of the appeal expressed concern about the significant increase in exports from Georgia to Russia in the context of large-scale international sanctions against the Russian Federation. The massive influx of Russians and Russian companies to Georgia indicates that this country is being used “to mitigate the effect of international sanctions against the Russian Federation”, it is further stated.

“The ongoing occupation, ethnic cleansing by the Russian Federation in Georgia, crimes against humanity, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the approach often used by the Russian Federation – intervention in a foreign state under the guise of so-called protection of its own citizens – creates a sufficient basis for establishing a visa regime,” NGO representatives emphasized.

They noted that restricting the rights of citizens of an occupying or hostile country is common practice and does not contradict international human rights standards. “Based on all of the above, we demand the immediate establishment of a visa regime for Russian citizens and a review of the legal status of those who have already entered the country,” the appeal’s authors added.

NGOs expressed “full support” for the Ukrainian people

At the same time, Georgian NGOs expressed “full support” for the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom and pointed to the actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and Georgia, which are prohibited by international law in the field of warfare. Furthermore, Russia continues to violate Georgia’s territorial integrity, recalled human rights activists.

Among the signatories of the appeal are the Open Society Foundation of Georgia, the Civil Society Institute, the Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia, the Movement for Equality, the Women’s Initiatives Support Group WISG, the European Foundation, the Center for Social Sciences and the Guards of the Georgia Court (Court Watch).

Georgia is one of the countries where the largest number of Russians have left since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to stay in Georgia without a visa for one year.