May 25, 2023

Georgians: "Stop The Wedding!"


Georgians: "Stop The Wedding!"
Police outside Kvareli Lake Resort in Georgia. NEWSGEORGIA / Новости-Грузия, Telegram.

On May 19, Yekaterina, daughter of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, and her husband, businessman Aleksander Vinokurov, attended a relative's wedding at a resort in Georgia. After finding out on local TV that she was in the country, activists protested outside her hotel. A dozen people were arrested.

Shortly after the local TV station Mtavari TV revealed the Vinokurovs were in Georgia, there was confusion over whether Lavrov's relatives were still at the resort when protesters arrived. Representatives of the luxury Kvareli Lake Resort vehemently denied the couple was ever there. Yet Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia, confirmed that the Vinokurovs had been at Kvareli. Melia expressed outrage that the Russian Foreign Minister's daughter was in the country since "[Lavrov is] the author of the bloodshed that happened [during Russia's invasion of Georgia] in 2008." 

Mtavari TV later reported that, by the time they covered the story, the EU and US-sanctioned couple were no longer in the country and had secretly left for Saudi Arabia.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of Georgian Dream, the ruling party in the country's parliament, condemned the protests and called them "xenophobic." Meanwhile, the president, Salomé Zurabishvili, who won the presidency as an independent candidate, called the couple's departure and the later cancellation of the wedding "a victory for society."

 

 

You Might Also Like

Flagpole Ripper
  • April 13, 2023

Flagpole Ripper

A man was arrested for tearing down a Russian flag at a police department.
A Sanctioned Flight
  • April 10, 2023

A Sanctioned Flight

Journalists discovered a scheme in which a Russian entrepreneur bought planes in the EU, bypassing sanctions.
Dubai is the New Vologda
  • January 17, 2023

Dubai is the New Vologda

A United Russia legislator pretended to be in Vologda but was actually in Dubai. A picture with Ksenia Shoigu gave him away.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955