Russians are being asked to recognize Russia as the occupier on the Georgian border, Volodin says
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, September 29, 2022
According to the speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, Russian citizens on the border of Georgia are asked to recognize Russia as an aggressor country, a violator of Georgia's territorial integrity. According to him, the document, which Russian citizens are allegedly asked to sign at the border of Georgia, requires the condemnation of Russia's actions against independent states.
According to Volodin, if Russian citizens really sign such a document, it is a criminal offense.
"Here, right now, Nikolai Vasilevich Kolomeitsev handed me a document that those who cross the Russian-Georgian border are asked to sign. An application for recognition of the territory of the Russian Federation of Georgia as an occupation regime. If this is true and our citizens sign this document, it is quite clear that this is a crime. In the first paragraph, it is said that the signatory admits that his country is the aggressor. This is already a criminal responsibility" Volodin said.
Volodin warns those citizens of Russia who allegedly sign a certain document before entering Georgia, that they will be punished if they return to the country.
"Perhaps those who ran away and signed this document, is it good that they left? We do not need to trust them. They have already betrayed us. However, we must say: they have committed many crimes against their own country, the nation. If they decide to return, they will be punished." Volodin said.
Volodin suggested that the Russian Duma study this issue.
The number of Russian citizens wishing to enter Georgia at the Larsi checkpoint has increased since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization on September 21.
In the first three days after the announcement of the mobilization, as the Russian media reported, there was a queue of 2,000 cars. The number later increased. Currently, according to Russian state media, the number of people wishing to cross the border has been reduced to 4,960 vehicles.
Russia is going to open a military commissariat mobilization point near the border of Georgia, at the Zemo Larsi checkpoint.
Entry of people from other regions of Russia to the internal administrative borders of the Republic of North Ossetia has been made difficult.
The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, spoke about the current situation at the Larsi checkpoint.
President Zurabishvili believes that, in relation to the issue, it is important for the government to use all mechanisms, including the format of the National Security Council.
On September 21, Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia. The decision was followed by protests in several Russian cities, including Moscow.
