Saakashvili claims lifting visas for Russians under his presidency aimed at “demonstrating Georgia’s success”

Georgia’s currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili on Thursday claimed his decision while in office in 2012 to lift visa regulations for Russians aimed at “demonstrating” the country’s “advancement and success” under the rule of his United National Movement between 2004 and 2012. 

 

By his social media post the third President responded to counter allegations by the Georgian Dream Government – which in May accepted visa free regime and direct flights with Russia following the Kremlin’s move to remove the restrictions amid its war with Ukraine – that it was him who had lifted restrictions for Russians following the latter’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and was “welcoming” tourists from the occupier country at borders.  

 

Saakashvili also claimed under his rule the visa-free period for Russian citizens was three months, “patriots worked in our security services, and the Russian intelligence network in Georgia was destroyed”. 

 

“They [the Russians] were walking in our streets shocked. Now, under the current Government, top Russian intelligence officials and spies are being welcomed in the country and even our secret maps and databases have been given to them”, Saakashvili wrote. 

 

He noted under the one-year visa-free regime, Russian citizens were able to start businesses in Georgia both legally and illegally.

 

“They do not pay taxes. Accordingly, services are offered to consumers at a lower price that is a threat to domestic companies”, Saakashvili claimed. 

 

Saakashvili, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, was arrested in Tbilisi in 2021 after eight years in self-imposed political exile, and is now serving a six-year-term for abuse of power while in office in two separate cases.