Social media users considered the punishment for the Russian man for the incident in Tbilisi to be lenient.

Alexander Popov, who urinated from a balcony onto cafe visitors in Tbilisi, should be banned from entering Georgia for life, not for three years, believe Facebook users*. Pro-Russian commentators expressed distrust of the published information about the incident.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Russian citizen Alexander Popov to 15 days of administrative arrest for urinating from a balcony onto cafe visitors while intoxicated. After serving his sentence, he will be deported from the country and banned from entering Georgia for three years.

The publication about the deportation of the Russian who urinated from a balcony onto cafe visitors in Tbilisi had garnered over 1800 reactions and more than 1200 comments on the “Caucasian Knot” Facebook page by 23:50 MSK on October 2. Many comments contained obscene language.

Social media users, identifying themselves as residents of Georgia, expressed outrage at the lenient punishment for Popov. “Three years of deportation is not enough,” believes Lika Lukhava. “He should be deported for life,” thinks Adamidze Meri. “Deportation and a complete ban on entering Georgia,” insists ნინო ქართველი ჭურღულაშვილი. “He will return in three years, for what?” wondered Marina Lolua.

“This is just a joke, a three-year ban. For such a thing, there should be a lifetime deportation. Drunk or not, this is outrageous cynicism. Why didn’t he relieve himself in the kitchen or the hallway? He was aware,” wrote Marina Zaharenko.

Many commenters noted that Popov had acquired property in Georgia. “We give such people the right to buy property, and then they consider themselves the owners,” stated Elis Sroi. “He should be deported with a lifetime ban on entering Georgia. What renovation are we talking about? Let him sell the apartment remotely and take his money. We don’t need anything from him,” declared Marisha Khomeriki.

“He bought an apartment in Georgia, plans to live here, and shouts ‘Glory to Russia’. Where is the logic?” wonders Emil Abramyan.

“What was the point of the triumphant shouts of ‘Glory to Russia’? Did he imagine himself a hero? If he wanted to be a hero, he shouldn’t have been hiding in Georgia, go to the SVO and there he can distinguish himself with shouts of ‘Glory to Russia’. What a disgrace,” wrote Romani Gvilava.

“I wonder, does Popov praise Russia with every urination?” jokes Marina Miqaberidze.

Some commentators noted that tourists from Russia tend to reproach the residents of Georgia for not being warm enough in their reception. “Russians then wonder why they are received this way by Georgians, why they are not liked. What is there to love about such people?” noted Oleg Vakhania. “Now there will be another outcry that Russians are being oppressed,” suggested Dali Klimiashvili.

The incident in Tbilisi reminded of the scandal at a wedding in Kakheti

Some recalled the summer incident in Kakheti, where Russian-speaking tourists poured some liquid (according to one version, urine) on wedding guests from a balcony. “They were outraged that a young man, whose brother had a wedding, put some sense into one fool, and these girls spoiled the mood for all the guests. And here’s another case, well maybe in Russia this is normal, but here one cannot behave like that,” wrote Lamara Lamara.

“It was high time to deport all Russians who behave shamelessly. Those girls from Kakheti who spoiled the wedding should also be tried and deported, not protected,” added Lili Abesadze.

“Such a boor should be deported forever to prevent conflicts between Georgians and Russians. But no – our government oppresses Georgians, while coddling these people,” noted ირმა კუპრავაю.

“Can we please close the border with the northern neighbor, introduce a visa regime, revoke all residence permits, ban entry with Russian plates, and let them desert in their own country? There has been and will be no interest, zeal, or common culture between our peoples; each did what they could for the other, now let everyone rest on their own land. Do you want to turn Georgia into an analogue of Adygea because your ports are burning?” wrote David Tkeshelashvili.

After the July scandal with Russian-speaking tourists in Kakheti, residents of Russia in social networks called to refuse trips to Georgia. The case of Giorgi Chigladze was discussed in social networks almost a month after the incident, where some commentators suggested that he apologize for striking the Russian-speaking tourist.

Pro-Russian commentators considered the incident fabricated

Users from Russia and those who identify themselves as Russians often responded to comments from residents of Georgia with links to inappropriate behavior from their compatriots but did not provide any specific examples. “Are you sure that here in Russia all Georgians behave decently? (...) Not everyone is as bloodthirsty as you. And yes, I condemn drunken antics from anyone!” stated Nina Aleksa.

User Marina Kirakosyan from Moscow noted in response to the outrage of residents of Georgia that a lenient regime for Russian citizens is in place in the country. “So stop letting them into your country and allowing them to have fun in Georgia for 365 days! Nowhere else is this the case!” she wrote.

Some Russian users share the opinion that Popov received a lenient punishment. “He should be given community service, cleaning toilets for three years,” believes Vladimir Kolupaev. “Deserved punishment. Such a person should be banned from leaving his own state, so he doesn’t disgrace the country and the people,” added Ivan Golovin. “A brutish life turns people into beasts. An ugly state breeds natural freaks,” noted Alexander Volny.

Some users from the Russian Federation also expressed confusion regarding their compatriot's behavior. “Why did he move to live in Georgia, buy an apartment there, if he despises them so much?” wondered Kachar Guseynaeva.

Authors of several comments attempted to question Popov's guilt and the overall significance of the incident. “This is being discussed every minute. As if there are no other problems,” wrote Victoria Dergacheva.

“This is all made up. Someone benefits from all this. People, don’t fall for the lies. Where is the video? I would like to see it,” claims Anatoly Volobuev.

However, such videos do not convince some: “Something in the video shows that the balcony railing and the concrete of the balcony look dry... did they come up with a new provocation? Someone benefits greatly, despite the government’s statements that ‘Russia is not our enemy’, still setting the population against Russians,” believes Maya Korobova.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that the spread of messages about allegedly hostile attitudes towards Russian tourists is sabotage against the country itself, effectively placing the responsibility for the campaign to discredit the country’s tourism sector on internal critics of the government. The opposition considered such rhetoric an attempt to label opponents negatively.

On July 11 in Tbilisi, participants of a memorial event for fighters killed in combat in Ukraine held a march near the parliament building. A conflict occurred between the march participants and a group of tourists which was reported to be from Russia. As seen in the footage, one of the tourists made an obscene gesture to the demonstrators.