Georgia: Russian citizen faces trial in Tbilisi for "illegal visit"
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 April 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgia: Russian citizen faces trial in Tbilisi for "illegal visit", 2 April 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f7d63705.html [accessed 24 December 2015] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 02, 2012
A Russian citizen charged with illegally entering Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia has gone on trial in Tbilisi.
Konstantin Rodionov pleaded guilty when proceedings opened on April 2 and said Russian authorities had not warned him that entering Abkhazia without Georgia's permission was considered a crime by Tbilisi.
Rodionov was arrested at Tbilisi airport on February 17. He claims he arrived in Georgia with the intention of starting a business but had no idea entering Abkhazia without Georgia's permission was illegal.
Russia recognized Abkhaz independence in 2008, following a five-day war with Georgia.
Georgia considers Abkhazia to be its territory and punishes anyone who enters the region without Tbilisi's official permission.
With reporting by Itar-TASS and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
