Sat 22 June 2019:
President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian airlines to suspend the transportation of Russian citizens to Georgia, saying the move is necessary to protect national security. The decree on the suspension, published Friday on the Kremlin’s website, said the ban would begin July 8 and would be “temporary.” The reason behind the delayed implementation was not clear and the decree did not state what terms would need to be met for flights to resume. The decree also ordered officials to take measures to ensure the return of Russians who are temporarily in Georgia.
The move came in the wake of a violent protest in the Georgian capital sparked by anger over the presence of a Russian delegation at an event in the Georgian parliament. In Tbilisi, protesters took to the streets for a second day Friday calling for snap parliamentary polls and the ruling party’s oligarch leader to cede power following a police crackdown that left 240 people injured. About 15,000 people gathered outside parliament to express anger over the behind-the-scenes rule of Georgia’s richest man Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Georgian Dream party.
According to the health ministry, at least 160 demonstrators and 80 police officers were injured Thursday when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the crowds. More than 300 people were arrested. On Friday, the head of Georgia’s parliament quit under pressure from demonstrators.
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