Georgian Interior Ministry deems Tbilisi visit of Russia's Night Wolves bikers for Victory Day to be undesirable
TBILISI. May 2 (Interfax) - A visit to Tbilisi that members of Russia's Night Wolves biking club are planning for May 9 will not be consistent with the spirit of this holiday and is therefore undesirable, the Georgian Interior Ministry said.
"The Georgian border is wide open to tourists and foreign citizens who respect our laws and who have not visited the occupied territories. As for Russian bikers from the Night Wolves club, we deem their visit to Georgia planned for May 9 to be undesirable," Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Shalva Khutsishvili told reporters on Tuesday.
A similar visit by the Russian bikers last year caused discontent among a substantial part of the Georgian population, he said.
"This visit is not consistent with the spirit of the May 9 holiday," Khutsishvili said.
Irakli Kipiani, head of the Georgian non-governmental organization Georgian-Russian Youth Union, told reporters earlier that the Russian bikers were planning to visit Georgia on Victory Day. Kipiani said he had sent a letter to the Georgian Interior Ministry with a request that the Russian bikers not face any impediments and their security be ensured.