Xenophobia, i.e., fear and hatred of those who are different, is what Ivanishvili's regime stands for, when it differentiates between its own citizens on various grounds and bases its policy on hatred towards minorities, Chairman of European Georgia, Giga Bokeria, said in response to the statement made by Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, according to which, a xenophobic and chauvinist campaign is underway against Russian citizens.

According to Bokeria, the reaction to Putin's large number of Russian citizens entering the country, while you don't have a government with national interests, is a natural instinct of a patriotic citizen of Georgia.

"Imagine a historical example, if a lot of Germans had come to London during the Second World War and started singing in German in pubs, what would be the reaction of the UK public?! Therefore, accusing the Georgian society of xenophobia in this case is a shameless lie. We are not talking about ethnic origin here, we are talking about citizens of a hostile state and their large number entering our territory when the Government does not protect the country's national interests.

More citizens than a standard number have entered, not only in Georgia but all over the world. They do so as their comfortable lives were disrupted due to sanctions. I am not referring to those opposing Putin, who are exiles, they should be accepted everywhere, be they Russians, Belarusians or others.

EU countries, such as the Baltics, which can hardly be accused of xenophobia, have restricted the entry of Russian citizens into their countries in large numbers, because it is a matter of national security and has nothing to do with hating a person because of his origin," said Giga Bokeria.