‘They don’t know how they are viewed here’: Russians in Georgia revive old tension

Data Lapauri, an owner of Dedaena Bar, tells Russian-speaking customers to converse in English. Photograph: Julien Pebrel/MYOP/The Guardian

As midnight approached on a recent Saturday evening in Tbilisi, the animated chatter and joyous shouting on the city’s central Rustaveli Avenue was almost all taking place in Russian.

A married couple from Rostov-on-Don headed home from dinner; passing them, a group of friends from St Petersburg were off for a late drink with some acquaintances from Moscow.