Russia's warning to its nationals against visiting Georgia is part of an "anti-Georgia campaign," the south Caucasus state's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Russia's Foreign Ministry warned its nationals earlier on Wednesday against visiting Georgia because of the threat of prosecution facing Russian tourists who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without Georgia's permission.
"This statement is part of an anti-Georgia campaign waged by the Russian government. It would be a good idea if they urged their nationals to refrain from illegally crossing the Georgian state border," Nino Kalandadze said.
She said Georgia is causing no problems for Russian nationals who enter through official border crossing points, adding that Russians enjoy a simplified visa regime.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said "foreigners who have visited Abkhazia and South Ossetia face penalties, including sizable fines or imprisonment, when they arrive in Georgia," adding the Georgian authorities were doing all their best to shut Abkhazia and South Ossetia off from the outer world.
Nesterenko said Russian nationals in Georgia were systematically victimized regardless of whether they had ever visited Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
Since then, Russia has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to the two regions, which Georgia considers part of its sovereign territory.
TBILISI, September 1 (RIA Novosti)
