Georgian Interior Ministry's spokesman says Russian citizens should not worry

Russian citizens who are temporary or permanently living in Georgia shouldnot have special reasons for concern, Paata Gomelauri, head of the pressservice of the Georgian Interior Ministry, said in an interview with theBlack Sea Press agency commenting on the statement of the Russian ForeignMinistry addressed to Russian citizens in Georgia on taking specialmeasures of security due to the worsening situation with law enforcement inthe country. At the same time the spokesman noted that the Russian ForeignMinistry might address any statements to its citizens and it would beincorrect from the side of the Georgian Interior Ministry to comment onthem. However, he stressed, there is no sharp worsening of the situation with lawenforcement in Georgia. The statistics of crimes in 2002 is practicallysimilar to the 2001 level. As far as Russian citizens are concerned, lawenforcement agencies have not registered cases of abuse of Russian citizenslately. Only three months ago, criminals robbed an apartment of an officerof the Russian Embassy. It has been the only crime committed against aRussian citizen over the past several months. .