President Saakashvili called on Georgians currently residing in the Russian Federation to return to Georgia ?in order to build and strengthen our country together.?
?Your own country needs you today. Therefore, I call on the Georgians living in Russia to return to their native land. The entire society is waiting for you. This concerns not only ethnic Georgians, but everybody who was born and who lived in this country, who had or has Georgian citizenship,? President Saakashvili said in a televised address to Georgian citizens on October 13.
?We have achieved much for the unification of our country, we are preparing for the return of Abkhazia, and we will need our citizens in order to revive this region,? the Georgian President said.
Saakashvili noted that he has already instructed the Georgian Foreign Ministry to ?maximally? simplify the rules for granting Georgian citizenship.
?I also want to tell the Georgians living in Russia: we will simplify the rules and create the conditions so that you can maintain Russian citizenship and simultaneously receive Georgian citizenship,? Saakashvili said.
?At the same time, I want to address the Russians living in Georgia. We offer the Russians living in Georgia, including the families of Russian officers serving on Russian military bases currently deployed in Georgia, to stay in the country as citizens of our country,? he said.
Saakashvili especially urged ethnic Georgians living and running businesses in Russia to return to Georgia.
?You have already faced problems in Russia. Georgia is a country where business can be done freely, where there is no corruption, where there is no administrative suppression, and where taxes are much lower [than in Russia]. And in turn, by returning to Georgia you will strengthen the country for which you are being punished today,? the President added.
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