Court fines Ukrainian citizen protesting entry of Russian cruise ship to Georgia

The Batumi City Court in western Georgia on Friday fined Ukrainian citizen Marina Chobanian ₾2,000 for disobeying the law enforcement during protests on July 31 in Batumi port, protesting the entry of a Russian cruise ship Astoria Grande. 

The Ukrainian citizen was detained along with more than 20 individuals at the rally for disobeying police and petty hooliganism. 

Palau-flagged ship Astoria Grande, operated by the Turkish cruise company Miray Cruises International, entered Batumi port for the first time on July 27 and was also hit by protests. 

The Georgian Dream ruling party officials claimed the protests had been “staged” by the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition, calling the reactions “uncivilized”. 

Russia lifted travel and visa restrictions with Georgia earlier this year, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The international community has disapproved of Tbilisi’s decision to accept the lifting of restrictions.