Russia Restores Visa-free Access for Georgians, Lifts Flight Ban

Russia on Wednesday restored visa-free journey for residents of Georgia and lifted a ban on direct flights between the 2 international locations imposed in 2019, in response to a decree revealed on a Russian authorities web site.

The transfer represents a pointy warming in relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, which have been among the many most strained within the former Soviet Union however have improved in recent times.

Russia permits residents of most former Soviet republics visa-free entry however imposed a visa regime on Georgians in 2000, citing the danger of terrorism within the North Caucasus area. Moscow banned direct flights to Georgia in 2019, after anti-Russian protests.

Georgia permits Russians visa-free entry and full work rights for as much as a yr, which has made the nation one of many important locations for Russians who’ve left their nation for the reason that begin of the battle in Ukraine.

Moscow and Tbilisi have had no formal diplomatic relations since 2008 once they fought a quick battle over South Ossetia, a Russian-backed breakaway area of Georgia.

Georgian society stays strongly anti-Russian, with a whole lot of hundreds of Georgians residing as inner refugees after fleeing South Ossetia and one other Russian-backed secessionist area, Abkhazia.

However, the Georgian authorities has prevented taking an overtly anti-Russian stance for the reason that begin of what Moscow calls its “particular navy operation” in Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022.

Tbilisi declined to impose sanctions on Moscow even though Georgian public opinion is pro-Ukrainian and the large influx of Russian anti-war emigres has created some strains within Georgia.

Tbilisi’s stance has strained relations with the European Union, even as it earned praise from its old foe Russia, which referred to Georgia’s position on the war as “balanced” and had repeatedly provided to revive direct flights.

In March, amid massive protests, Georgia’s authorities deserted efforts to move a draft legislation regulating so-called “international brokers”. Critics said the bill was modelled on a Russian law they say was used to undermine civil society there, and that it is symbolic of an authoritarian shift in Georgia.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)