Georgia Won't Accept Russia's Georgian Deportees
October 09, 2006
Georgians arriving in Tbilisi on Russian plane on October 6 (epa)
Last week, Russia deported more than 130 Georgians for alleged illegal immigration in the fallout from a spying row.
They were flown to Georgia in an Emergency Situations Ministry plane as Russia has severed all transport links with Georgia.
In televised comments late on October 8, Saakashvili said the deportees should be transported in passenger planes, not in "cattle carts," adding on October 9 that Georgia is considering bringing a case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights.
Russia imposed a series of measures against Georgians and began a crackdown on alleged illegal Georgian immigrants despite the release by Georgian authorities of four Russian soldiers accused of spying.
Also on October 8, Saakashvili said he was willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "anytime" to defuse the row.
(Rustavi-2, AP)