Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze announced her decision on 16 November, saying the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi had refused to grant Georgian parliamentarian Givi Targamadze a visa to attend the two-day meeting.
On 16 November, Saakashvili said Burjanadze's decision was the "right" one. He was quoted as saying Russia has "harmed" itself by refusing a visa to a lawmaker because of his statements.
Targamadze, the chairman of the parliamentary Defense and Security Committee, had criticized Russian peacekeepers.
The Russian Embassy in Tbilisi said in a statement on 16 November that Targamadze's request for a visa was initially rejected, but the issue was reconsidered and a visa was issued later in the day.
(ITAR-TASS/Georgian TV)
RFE/RL Caucasus Report
RFE/RL Caucasus Report
SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and in-depth analysis on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia's North Caucasus by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Caucasus Report."
