Kelly Degnan, the outgoing Ambassador of the United States to Georgia, on Monday said no one should wait for Georgians to welcome the citizens from the country that occupies its territories, in comment on protests in Batumi following the entry of a cruise ship boarding Russian nationals. 

In her press comments, the diplomat said because of Russia families in Georgia had been divided by artificial administrative “border lines”. 

“It really does not matter if these people come by land or sea. I believe the Georgian people have clearly shown that they do not want this”, Degnan said, adding “Georgians use their constitutionally guaranteed right to express this feeling and protest. This is allowed in a democratic state and is allowed by the constitution. 

Nine demonstrators were arrested on Monday protesting the entry of the cruise ship for disobeying the law enforcement. 

The ship Astoria Grande, sailing under the Palau flag, entered Georgia a second time early on Monday from Turkey.