Russia's Interests Section Calls Flag Burning in Tbilisi Russophobia

The Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi called the burning of the Russian flag at a demonstration against the participation of Russian athletes in the World Fencing Championships in the capital of Georgia a Russophobic act.

Earlier, provocateurs from various Georgian NGOs burned the Russian flag in Tbilisi near the hotel where the Russian fencers are staying. Initially, a small group of people organized an anti-Russian rally near the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi, where the World Fencing Championships are taking place. Patrol police teams were mobilized at the scene.

"We have drawn attention to the latest Russophobic actions taken by a well-known group of politically motivated individuals against our athletes participating (in a neutral status) in the World Fencing Championships taking place in Tbilisi. The obvious goal of these provocative actions is to use the anti-Russian card to mobilize supporters of radical forces and damage the prestige of Tbilisi as the host country," the statement published on the Telegram channel of the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia reads.

"While paying tribute to the efforts of the organizers to hold the championship at the appropriate level, we expect that the competent Georgian authorities will take the necessary measures to ensure conditions for fair, non-discriminatory and non-politicized competitions," the statement reads.

On Sunday, two-time Olympic champion Yana Egoryan of Russia won her third world championship gold in her career. Also at the tournament in Tbilisi, foil fencer Kirill Borodachev and the women's epee team (Aizanat Murtazaeva, Yana Bekmurzova, Kristina Yasinskaya and Milen Bavuge Habimana) won silver medals.

The World Fencing Championships are being held from July 22 to 30. The Russians are competing in the tournament as neutrals. In May, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) allowed adult Russian athletes to participate in team competitions.

Reprinted from https://ria.ru/