Russian MFA's Zakharova Demands Probe of 'Anti-Russian Manifestations' in Georgia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a briefing that 'anti-Russian manifestations' against Russian nationals in Georgia 'must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable,' citing unspecified 'serious incidents' including a July altercation in Kakheti. Georgian Dream leadership has separately blamed a 'deep state' for fueling 'Russophobia' to damage Russian tourism, which has risen 1.6x since 2023, while Georgia's State Security Service opened a 'sabotage' probe into social media campaigns it says portray Georgia as unwelcoming to Russians.