Russian Foreign Ministry advises Russian citizens to refrain from trips to Georgia, citing prosecution of foreigners visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia without the knowledge of Tbilisi.
“The prosecution may entail major penalties or prison term, imposed on the basis of a so-called 2009 law on occupied territories, much criticized by CoE Venice Commission. Obviously, Georgian authorities are sparing no effort to prevent Abkhazia and South Ossetia from contacting the outside world,” Russia Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko emphasized.
Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia following Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence, RIA Novosti reported.
