Russia evacuates its tourists from Georgia

Baku / 22.06.19 / Turan: All organized Russian tourists should be taken out of Georgia in a planned manner or by any other available flights before July 8, Irina Turina, a representative for the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUT) told RIA Novosti.

"Until July 8, when the flight connection with Georgia is stopped, it will take more than 2 weeks, and most of the people who rest in this country will most likely leave there in a planned manner. If one of the tourists does not wish to interrupt their vacation, they will buy return tickets themselves," she said.

New tourists will not enter Georgia, as tour operators are advised to stop selling tours, Turina said.

Executive Director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) Maya Lomidze told RIA Novosti that tourists can count either on full compensation, or, if the rest was interrupted, on partial compensation.

On June 21 the President of Russia signed a decree banning Russian airlines from carrying passengers to Georgia.

The actions of the Kremlin resemble the evacuation of the population from the combat zone. Such demonstrative steps are difficult to explain with the latest unrest and anti-Russian sentiments in Georgia.

The termination of flights does not mean a ban on travel to Georgia; so many tourists will travel to there through neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan. -02D-