The individuals who today are appointed as the primary anti-Russian voices, Khoshtaria, Zurab Japaridze, Vano Merabishvili, openly declared that Russian tourists and Russian money were completely acceptable to them. Such a statement made today the Prime Minister of Georgia.

"My letter was grounded in very simple, hard facts. We all remember the previous regime`s approach between 2008 and 2012, with what pride they spoke of throwing open the doors to Russian tourists, Russian businesses, and so forth in Georgia.

This was spoken of by, among others, the chief anti-Russian figures, people who today are appointed as the main Russophobes, such as [Elene] Khoshtaria, Zurab Japaridze, Vano Merabishvili, etc. They spoke openly about this, stating that Russian tourists, Russian money were entirely acceptable to them. Now they deploy a completely different rhetoric, especially since 2022.

Specifically regarding tourism, they launched several waves of anti-Russian campaigns. For example in 2022, immediately after the outbreak of the war, when mobilisation was declared in Russia, right during the peak tourist season. Every tourist season they ramp up this campaign with a single aim: to sabotage their own country, its national interests. There is simply no other explanation for this. After 2008, you welcomed Russian tourism, culture and business, despite the war having only just occurred. That was a time when over 400 of our fellow citizens, including soldiers, police officers, civilians, were killed, countless were wounded, and 30,000 people were displaced, yet for them back then, everything Russian was absolutely acceptable. They spoke of it boldly and with pride. Then, effectively, Russia only became a real occupier of Georgia to them after the invasion of Ukraine, which would be laughable, were it not far more tragic.

What does all of this point to? That whatever these agents are told to do, they do. Between 2008 and 2012, these foreign agents were instructed to adopt such rhetoric regarding Russia, and since 2022, they have been instructed to adopt a different rhetoric. It could not be clearer. All of this indicates one thing - these people are ordinary foreign assets, acting solely on the orders of external handlers, against the national interests of their formal homeland", - said Irakli Kobakhidze.