The ruling Georgian Dream party MP, General-Lieutenant Vladimer Chachibaia told Front News on Wednesday that the influx of Russian nationals in Georgia after the announcement of partial military mobilisation in Russia last week, benefited the interests of Ukraine. 

The MP claimed that through permitting the fleeing Russians into the country, the Georgian authorities hampered their participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

“If such people appear on the battlefield, no matter whether they have motivation or not, they will have to shoot and may kill Ukrainian women and children”, said the MP. 

Chachibaia also said that the “temporary stay” of Russians in Georgia also benefited the Georgian economy, as they had to rent appartements and pay for various necessities. 

The MP stressed that he trusted the country’s law enforcement agencies that there was “no dramatic increase” in the figures of Russian visitors, and that they “fully controlled” the country’s checkpoints.