Opposition MP accuses Interior Ministry of not giving her information on Lavrov’s family while in Georgia

Khatia Dekanoidze, an opposition MP, on Friday accused the country’s Interior Ministry of not giving her requested information on the entry of family members of Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in May. 

The MP claimed she had not requested personnel information of the individuals, and said the body had pointed to “wrong regulations” to justify its rejection of the request. 

“I did not ask for passport information, I only asked for the border [from where they entered] and time when the [Lavrov’s family members] entered, as well as how many people accompanied them”, Dekanoidze said. 

In response deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said border crossing information was personnel data and his body was obliged to provide the information only in exceptional situations. 

“The ministry has not refused to provide the information, and asked the MP to present legal and legitimate purposes for the request”, Darakhvelidze said. 

Lavrov’s family members, reportedly his daughter and a son-in-law, arrived in Georgia in-mid May, following Russia’s move on May 10 to lift visa and travel restrictions with Georgia on the backdrop of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, for marriage celebrations. 

The group was reportedly forced to leave Georgia earlier than scheduled due to public protests.