Georgia Protests Violation of its Territorial Waters by Russian Boat
The Georgian authorities expressed protest regarding a violation of its territorial waters by a Russian tourist boat carrying a group of Russian MPs to breakaway Abkhazia on August 11.
The group of Russian MPs, led by Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky, arrived from Sochi (Russia) to Gagra (Abkhazia) on August 11.
?The boat part of a convoy with the Russian coast guard. The Georgian coast guard signaled several times, however the tourist ship neglected these signals and continued sailing,? Gigi Ugulava said at a news briefing on August 11.
He said that the Georgian side refrained from aggravating the situation through the use of extreme measures to seize the ship, adding that the Georgian Foreign Ministry will send a protest note to the Russian side in regards to this violation.
Earlier on August 9 Vladimir Zhirinovsky accused the Georgian side of opening fire at his vehicle as he drove from the Russian town of Anapa to the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi.
He claimed that ?the Georgian authorities are trying to prevent the councillors of the Russian Duma from visiting their favourite vacation areas in Abkhazia.?
