Droa opposition leader proposes tourist visas, tax for Russians

Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria on Tuesday offered the authorities to impose three-week tourist visas and a tourist tax for Russians entering the country on the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to “prevent uncontrolled influx of Russian citizens and security threats”. 

Khoshtaria also called for tougher border control, registration and monitoring of persons entering Georgia from Russia, and collection of their biometric data. 

“This will allow the entry of only the targeted segment from Russia, the control of Russian citizens on the territory of the country”, Khoshtaria said. 

She also said that the business registration for Russian citizens should be limited, “as Russian citizens who come for tourist purposes do not need business registration in Georgia”. 

“However, according to the existing experience, they register companies. It is important to stop the registration of legal entities for Russian citizens during the period of international sanctions, which does not prevent tourism, but protects the country from the uncontrolled inflow of Russian money “,  Khoshtaria said. 

Khoshtaria said that the registration of private property should also be restricted for Russian citizens, “because people coming for the purpose of tourism do not need to purchase residential premises and plots of land.

“Therefore, it is necessary to stop the registration of real estate for Russian citizens during the period of international sanctions, which has nothing to do with the tourism industry”, she stated. 

The Georgian Dream authorities have stated several times that they had no plans to impose visa requirements for Russian citizens, claiming that the move “would harm domestic tourism”.