“The descendants of Exarch Pavel, Rodionov and these despicable creatures have been known to every Georgian for 250 years. When they feel at home in this country, they behave as they do. This would not have happened if we had adopted the ‘Georgia Protection Act’,” Tazo Datunashvili, a leader of Lelo - Strong Georgia, said while commenting on the incident in Telavi.

Datunashvili is convinced that similar incidents could have been prevented if Russian citizens had been required to sign a document when crossing the border acknowledging that they were entering a territory occupied by their own country and understanding that they could never feel at home in Georgia.

“This incident is not isolated. It is simply a reflection of what happens in hundreds and thousands of cases - for example, every day in Batumi and in Tbilisi, where there are many of them and numerous everyday conflicts occur because they feel at home.

“Three years ago, when the first signs of this influx appeared, Lelo - Strong Georgia said that we needed a ‘Georgia Protection Act’. If these people had been required to sign upon crossing the border that they were entering territory occupied by their own country, believe me, they would not have behaved this way. Such incidents would not have occurred if they had known that they were not completely comfortable here, that they should not feel at home in a country where people and families live whose children, sisters and brothers were killed, raped and tortured by their fellow citizens - Russians.

“The territory of the country is occupied by them, therefore no Russian should ever feel at home here. The clear example is that today they feel at home and untouchable. The incident that occurred cannot be justified from either side, but it would not have happened if we had adopted the ‘Georgia Protection Act’. The fact that the ‘Georgia Protection Act’ was the right peaceful, state-oriented and patriotic approach toward Russians in this country is also demonstrated by the fact that Sukhumi agents are using our act as an element of the charges in the trial against political leaders,” Datunashvili said.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, officers of the Kakheti Police Department detained one person on charges of intentionally causing minor bodily harm in connection with the incident at a wedding in Telavi. According to witness statements, foreign nationals staying at a hotel allegedly insulted wedding guests from the balcony of their room and poured water on the equipment, after which the accused physically assaulted a foreign national woman.

The injured woman was taken to a clinic for medical assistance. The investigation is being conducted under Article 120 of the Criminal Code, which carries a sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment.