Aslan Bzhania, the de facto President of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Abkhazia region, on Wednesday told Tass the region was ready to host the Astoria Grande cruise ship, whose entry in Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi on July 27 and 31 caused protests. 

"The Republic is interested in the expansion of tourist services, taking into account the geographical possibilities of cruise liner services, we will consider them especially prospectively in the summer period," Bzhania told the Russian agency.

He added he invited the liner to Abkhazia with “great joy” and promised a “warm welcome to Russian tourists”. 

The Georgian ruling party officials claimed the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition stood behind the protests, which saw 23 individuals arrested for disobedience to the law enforcement and petty hooliganism.