Russia to Revise Visa Regime with Georgia after Stabilization

Russian ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said today Russia?s decision to impose simplified visa regime with Georgia?s Adjara Autonomous Republic was a temporary measure.

Russian ambassador met today with Georgian Interim President Nino Burjanadze to discuss the Russian decision to simplify visa requirements for Adjara. Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned Russia?s decision, as ?unilateral, which violates Georgia?s sovereignty.?

?I don?t think it is a violation of country?s sovereignty,? Vladimir Chkhikvishvili at a news briefing after the meeting with Nino Burjanadze.

Russian ambassador said after the meeting that Nino Burjanadze ?expressed her concern regarding the issue.?

?Russia?s policy is directed towards simplification and final lifting of visa regime between Georgia and Russia. Along with stabilization of the situation on the entire territory of Georgia, visa requirements will be either simplified or even cancelled,? Vladimir Chkhikvishvili said at a news briefing after the meeting with Interim President Nino Burjanadze on December 9.

Vladimir Chkhikvishvili explained Russia?s decision to simplify visa regime only with Adjara with the fact that ?presently the situation is more stable in Adjara.?

The Russian Ambassador said that he has no detailed information what ?the simplified visa regime? would consider. ?However I guess the residents of Adjara will receive Russian entry visas on the border.?

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on December 8, ?simplified visa regime will be enforced from December 9? for the population of Georgia living in Adjara.

Russia already maintains unilaterally imposed non-visa regimes with the Georgia?s breakaway Abkhaz and South Ossetian regions that cause protest of the Georgian authorities.

Visa regime between Russia and Georgia was introduced on December 5, 2000, as Russia withdrew from the 1992 Bishkek Agreement, foreseeing visa-free relations between the former Soviet republics.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)