On September 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced what he described as a “limited” mobilization of Russia’s military reserves. Some Georgian commentators and politicians are concerned about the wave of Russian citizens trying to evade mobilization and flee to Georgia.
Anecdotal reports surfaced about the long lines at the Larsi road checkpoint on Georgia’s northern border. Nonetheless, on September 22, the tax authority that oversees customs declared that “no sharp fluctuation/increase” was registered in the number of people or goods passing through the checkpoint in Kazbegi (Larsi). The service says the work of this customs office is “unimpeded”.
Since several EU countries bordering Russia have tightened controls or completely abolished issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens, Georgia remains one of the easiest escape alternatives – a Russian citizen in possession of a so-called “foreign passport” can visit Georgia for up to one year. The calls for a tightening of visa regulations became correspondingly louder.
What should the government do and how should it avoid or manage potential risks? Civil.ge offers a compilation of statements from the ruling party and opposition politicians:
The assessments of the ruling party
MP Irakli Kobachidze, President of the Georgian Dream, said that the government is doing everything possible to ensure national security. Pointing to the earlier influx of Russians when the war against Ukraine began last February, he said “artificial campaigns” had been unleashed against the Russian tourists, but the fears proved to be “absolutely unfounded, false and artificial.” ’ and served political purposes. “The situation is fully under control and the government takes full responsibility for it,” Kobachidze noted, adding that there are some threats and “that’s why we called political actors, including the radical opposition [the term GD uses to denote UNM]and the relevant NGOs to refrain from warmongering rhetoric and provocations, but they continue with the same rhetoric and with provocative actions, which is unacceptable.” He added that now that Russia has announced the mobilization, “we in the assessment of threats should remain vigilant and cautious”.
MP Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on External Relations, noted that among Russian citizens who have returned to Georgia, there are many ethnic Georgians. “When the risks are so high that legislative changes or restrictions are required, the competent authorities should issue such a recommendation,” he noted.
Tea Achwlediani, Minister of State for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, noted that “this time a threat is hypothetical. We will discuss this issue when it becomes real.”
Opinion assessments
Kakhaber Kemoklidze, Pro-Georgia Party, former secretary of the National Security Council, said Putin’s decision indicated Russia was facing defeat in Ukraine. “This decision will prompt many people to leave Russia and a wave of migration will continue to increase, increasing national security risks,” he noted, adding that given the potential scale of the influx “from a hostile state,” security services will win. not be able to “control risks at the operational level” even if the political will to do so. He expressed concern that “the ruling party does not want to see the threat” and called for tightening of the rules on entry and registration of Russian citizens in Georgia. “Customs officers should know what the purpose of their arrival is, where they will be staying, and they should provide this information to the State Security Service” to create an updated database to track the potential risks. He said while the decision to introduce or tighten the visa regime is a political decision, measures could be taken beforehand to tighten immigration controls and increase the amount of information the state receives about the newcomers. Kemoklidze said that with the political will it is possible, but added: “In my opinion, neither the State Security Service nor the Georgian Dream have such a will”.
Salome Samadashvili, Lelo for the Georgia Party said Russia’s military conscription will result in more Russian citizens leaving their country. “Georgia remains the easiest place for Russian citizens to enter without a visa. Considering our security challenges, we have warned the government since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that it is necessary to focus on imposing visa requirements on Russian citizens,” she stressed. However, since the government took no steps, “we offer to start discussions in parliament on the adoption of relevant legislative changes and the introduction of strict requirements for short-term visas for Russian citizens,” Samadashvili added.
Paata Manjgaladze, “Strategy Agmashenebeli” claims that more than 300,000 Russian citizens have entered Georgia. [this figure is challenged: in March, the Minister of Interior said over 12,000 Russians stayed in Georgia since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – Civil.ge]. “Now a new wave has appeared – people who do not want to go to war have rushed to the borders of different countries, but most European countries are closed to them. Of course, we cannot turn Georgia into a concentration of deserters,” he stressed, calling for the necessary security measures. “We should only let in those who oppose Putin’s regime. The security of Georgia should not be endangered because nobody knows who will meet the so-called “deserters”, Manjgaladze added.
Giga Bokeria, President of the European Georgia Party, noting that the influx of Russian citizens further enhances Russia’s ability to have a deeper intelligence network for the future and “it poses a huge problem”. He stressed the need to “focus on changing the Putin regime [in Georgia]because this is the prerequisite for an effective policy.”
More comments to come as they emerge…
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