“The most dissatisfied with direct flights are the Russians, who arrived in Georgia only a year ago”

“I am on the side of the government, which supported Russia’s decision,” says Giorgi, a resident of Tbilisi. “We need to think about the world, about the interests of the country.

We received a peace offer. Georgians were given more rights and more amenities. But now there are those who incite hatred, looking for a catch in President Putin’s decree. So there will never be peace in Georgia.

I want to ask those protesters who gathered outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday: “Whose gasoline do you fill in cars at gas stations?” 67% of all oil and oil products go to Georgia from Russia. And from whose flour do your housewives cook khachapuri, khinkali and baklava? 99% of incoming wheat is imported from Russia. Why don’t you protest against this? I would like to believe in common sense that things will not come to a large-scale internal conflict in Georgia.

I agree with George and Nana, who lives in Poti.

“We are connected with Russia by a large trade turnover,” the woman says. – Georgian wines and mineral water are flowing towards Moscow. Where else can we find such a big market?

As for direct flights and a visa-free regime for Georgians, in my opinion, social and humanitarian goals are visible here. It should be taken into account that quite a lot of ethnic Georgians live in Russia. Thank God, now I can visit my sisters and nephews, who live in the Moscow region. The eldest, Elene, is very ill. I haven’t seen her for nine years.

Vaso, a resident of Tbilisi, says that he has been in high spirits for the second day.

– Now my family and I will not have hundreds of obstacles to come to the anniversary of our dear grandfather Demeter! Vaso shares with us. – I was very upset when I saw the statements of our President Salome Zurabishvili, who called the decree of Vladimir Putin a “provocation”.

She is a Westerner. And thank God that Georgia is a parliamentary republic, the powers of the president are very limited. It seems to me that since the news has sounded, it means that both sides have already reached an agreement.

Badri from Borjomi says she is overwhelmed by the “battles” that are taking place on social media and forums.

“Surprisingly, the most dissatisfied with the recent news are the Russians, who arrived in Georgia only a year ago,” Badri notes. “These ‘guests’ — expats, relocators, draft runners — unceremoniously tell the Georgians how they should react, how they should go on strike, what is good for us and what is bad. That is, whoever wants to come to our country can come, but Georgians do not need to go anywhere, there is no need for us to make life easier. Such is the moral.

Responded to our call to speak about direct flights and visa-free regime and radical citizens of Georgia.

“Russia has obviously begun to flirt with the Georgians,” says a Tbilisi resident who asked to be called “just David.” “First, we were shown a whip in the form of a law on foreign agents. When it did not pass, they threw us a carrot in the form of a visa-free regime and direct flights. And, to my great chagrin, there were many who forgot about their history, about the lost territories. Now we need to think not about personal gain, but about global processes, Georgia’s place in the modern world.

“Just David” at the same time forgot or did not want to remember that the Georgian law on foreign agents, which was proposed by local authorities, is a much softer version of a similar American law, and it was proposed to be adopted, since numerous Western-fuelled NGOs are trying to tear Georgia apart and overthrow the legitimately elected the current government.

Another one of our interlocutors turned out to be a truly “belligerent Tamara.”

“I want to remind you that Georgia does not have diplomatic relations with Russia,” Tamara takes the bull by the horns. – What is happening now is nothing more than a reputational failure for us. I think that getting closer to Russia now is short-sighted and dangerous.

Gia from Tbilisi said that the basis of everything that is happening is moves for parallel imports. And Vano from Poti ironically stated that now the Georgians “will overtake the entire car market to Russia.”

In turn, Luka from Kutaisi urged not to consider everything that happens through the prism of events in Ukraine.

“Georgia has its own destiny and its own path,” Luka explains. – Georgians need a visa-free regime and direct flights. Ordinary people will benefit from this. For ten years I have not been to the grave of my father, who is buried in Yekaterinburg. Now I can finally bow to his ashes. And there is no need for me to shout “shame” and that I “cave in” under someone.

Mariam, a resident of Tbilisi, summed up the discussion:

— To be honest, I do not understand the rising wave of indignation. They canceled the visa-free regime, they are going to start up direct flights – it’s like opening the door, whoever wants – let him in, who does not agree – let him stay. Why the extra controversy?