22:10, 14 December 2009

Soviet dissident applies for Georgian citizenship

According to the Georgian party, Alexander Bondarev, a dissident from Soviet time, living in Paris, and a resident of St Petersburg Ekaterina Timofeeva have addressed their requests for citizenship to the authorities of Georgia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in November Oleg Panfilov, a Russian journalist and the head of the Centre of Extreme Journalism, was forced to move to Tbilisi.

This time, as Nino Kalandadze, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, told journalists, an appeal for Georgian citizenship was submitted to the Georgian consulate in France by Alexander Bondarev.

"Everyone has the right to ask Georgian citizenship and enjoy the status of dual citizenship. The Georgian party will consider the application and decide according to the expediency," the GHN quotes Ms Kalandadze as saying.

The Ekaterina Timofeeva's intention to take the Georgian citizenship was reported by the Georgian Expert Club. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has confirmed this information.

According to the Constitution of Georgia, the Georgian citizenship is granted by the President of Georgia.