Tbilisi, Moscow at Odds over Soldiers’ Visa Row

Russian Foreign Ministry protested on December 21 against, as it described, “illegal activities” carried out by the Georgian side against the Russian servicemen deployed in Georgia.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information note three Russian servicemen from the Tbilisi-based Headquarters of the Russian Troops in the Trans Caucasus (GRVZ) were detained by the Georgian Military Police on December 18 illegally. The Russian side has described this incident as “planned provocation,” which will hinder those positive trends which have recently emerged.

In a response, the Georgian Foreign Ministry also issued an information note on December 22 and said that two servicemen were released shortly after the arrest while the third one was expelled from the country, as his visa proved to be expired. 

“We believe that separate incidents that may arise should not come in the way of a constructive dialogue and be put into any political prism,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry stated.