Russia has officially restored visa-free travel for all citizens of Georgia and has also lifted the ban on direct flights between the two countries that was imposed in 2019.
Announcing the news, the Ministry of Transport of Russia said that all the country’s airlines would operate seven flights per week between Moscow and Tbilisi.
The same noted that the decision to restore visa-free travel and lift the flight ban was taken in order to facilitate the “conditions for communication and contacts”, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to Reuters, the move represents a significant warming in relations between the two countries, which have been among the most strained in the former Soviet Union but which improved in recent years.
The decision of Russia to restore visa-free travel and lift the flight ban was welcomed by the deputy economy minister, Mariam Kvrivishvili, who said for Reuters that the travel options will now significantly improve for Georgians who live in Russia.
On the other hand, the move was not welcomed by the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, whose position is ceremonial and who has accused the ruling Dream party of the country of having ties to Moscow since being elected in 2018.
Through an official statement on her official Twitter account, President Zourabichvili called the move of Russia “a provocation”.
She said that the decision of Russia to resume direct flights as well as to lift the visa ban is unacceptable as long as Russia continues its aggression on Ukraine and occupies the territory of Georgia.
Moreover, Zourabichvili said that Georgia does not need any gifts from Russia and stressed that the country would remain on the same side as the other European countries.
“This is a completely unacceptable and inappropriate time. We do not need gifts from Russia masked as some kind of concession. In today’s situation, we are on the same side as all our European friends!” Zourabichvili wrote on her official Twitter account.
Reuters notes that the society of Georgia remains strongly anti-Russian, with thousands of them living as internal refugees after fleeing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which is another Russian-backed secessionist region.
Currently, Russia permits citizens of most former Soviet republics to enter without the need for a visa. However, the country decided to impose a visa regime for Georgians back in 2000, citing the risk of terrorism.
Now that the measure has been lifted, it is expected that the number of entries and exits between the two countries will significantly increase as those wishing to travel from one country to another will no longer have to undergo additional rules.
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