Putin: Russia will not punish Tbilisi out of respect for the Georgian people

Russian President Putin. Photo: Sputnik

“As for any kind of sanctions against Georgia, I will not do this out of respect for the Georgian people,” the Russian head of state told reporters.

Earlier, the Russian State Duma introduced an initiative to impose sanctions against "relentless provocations against Russia."

Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are going through a difficult period. Recently, anti-government and anti-Russian protests began in Georgia, leading to the suspension of air links between the two countries.

On July 7, in his author's program, the presenter of the Georgian channel Rustavi-2, Georgy Gabunia, used obscene language to talk about the Russian president and his parents.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the unprecedented cowardly act of the Georgian journalist. The Georgian President, Prime Minister, Foreign Ministry and the country's netizens also condemned the actions of Georgy Gabunia.

Moscow called the incident an unprecedented cowardly incident and an open provocation by Georgian extremists. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was waiting for an appropriate response from relevant organizations and the media community.

Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that anti-Russian provocations have become more serious in Georgia, and the state does not want to restrain “radical Islamist thugs.”