Return of cruise ship carrying Russian passengers sparks new protests in Batumi
The Georgian coastal city of Batumi saw renewed protests Monday morning against the arrival of the cruise liner Astoria Grande, which was carrying nearly 800 Russian tourists.
According to Georgian media, police tightened security and put up metal barriers at the port. Clashes reportedly broke out between officers and protesters, with multiple people getting arrested.
Blogger Nikolai Levshits said that activists blocked the Astoria Grande’s passengers from exiting the ship and obstructed the path of the bus that was supposed to pick the tourists up from the pier. Protesters reportedly threw bottles and eggs at the vehicle.
The protest was the second one against the Astoria Grande in less than a week. On July 27, demonstrators met cruise passengers with signs featuring messages like “Russia is an occupier” and “Go back to your fucking country,” causing the ship to leave earlier than scheduled.
According to Russian state media, the ship will no longer stop in Batumi in the future.