More than 20,000 Russians arrived in Georgia over past few days

TBILISI. March 7 (Interfax) - A total of 20,000-25,000 Russian citizens crossed the Georgian border over the past few days, Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said.

"These statistics of the appearance of a large number of Russian citizens were discussed in today's government meeting," Davitashvili told reporters on Monday.

He said, citing data from Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, that such number of Russian citizens in Georgia over several days was recorded in 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic.

"The interior minister believes one cannot speak about security risks to our country in connection with the arrival of such number of Russian citizens in Georgia," Davitashvili said, adding that the interior ministry will give detailed information to the public.

In the meantime, representatives of the radical Georgian opposition in the past few days held protests against Russian citizens, saying they pose potential danger to Georgia.

The police have recently detained five protesters near the building of the Georgian State Chancellery who tried to throw Russian-made products sold in Tbilisi at the entrance to the building where the government holds sessions. Opposition activists also say Russian citizens forming long lines to ATMs to take foreign currency from their cards.