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The News in Brief

Friday, February 23
Vice-Premier: Number of Visitors in Georgia Is Increasing

The first Vice Premier and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Dimitry Kumsishvili noted that Georgia provides the most favorable investment environment with low taxes and simplified regulations during the official reception of the International Aviation Forum CONNECT 2018.

“We strongly believe that governments can provide significant assistance in the development of certain fields. We have been on this path for the last few years,” said Kumsishvili.

The minister added these investments will lead to growth and development of the country.

“In addition, we are taking special efforts to improve our transport network quality. We have invested in airports – we took all measures to ensure high security standards. We also introduced the so-called open sky policy which made our market open. I am glad to tell you that this approach has already yielded results and will bring benefits in the future too. The number of visitors is increasing in Georgia yearly," said Kumsishvili.

The 15th International Aviation Forum CONNECT 2018, hosted by Tbilisi this year, brought together more than 500 representatives of 65 airline companies and 250 airports to participate in the European Aviation Forum.

The air companies, including Royal Dutch Airlines, Gulf Air, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Ukraine International Airlines, Turkish Airlines and many others participated in the Forum.

The event lasted from February 20 to February 22.



Ukraine Bans Saakashvili for 3 Years

Ukraine's border service has banned Georgia's former President and active opposition leader of Ukraine Mikheil Saakashvili from entering the country for three years, days after he was expelled from the country.

The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian border-service spokesman Oleg Slobodyan.

Saakashvili posted a document from the border service that said his entry ban runs until February 13, 2021 via Facebook.

Saakashvili responded to the ban: "With or without me, the end has already come for these authorities, and I will return home to Ukraine very soon now, much sooner than in three years."

Ukrainian authorities have accused Saakashvili of supporting an alleged "criminal group" led by Viktor Yanukovych, the Moscow-friendly former president who fled the country in 2014 during the massive protests known as the Euromaidan.

Saakashvili was the third president of Georgia. He now is in Netherlands where he arrived in detention after deported from Kyiv for illegally crossing Ukraine's state border.

He is also wanted in Georgia for embezzlement and abuse of power which he describes as politically motivated charges.
(Prepared by Mariam Chanishvili)