Georgia, Russia Discuss Easing of Visa Regime

The Georgian Prime Minister, Zurab Zhvania, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovn his visit to Moscow on may 24th to discuss relations between the two neighbors.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides expressed satisfaction in ?the positive trends that have prevailed in bilateral relations recently.?

The Georgian PM and the Russian Foreign Minister discussed simplification of visa requirements between the two countries.

In light of these positive trends, particularly ?in a joint fight against international terrorism,? the two sides discussed the ?possibility of the easing of the visa regime,? according to the press release issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia imposed stricter visa requirements for Georgians in 2002 under the pretext of preventing Chechen militants? from infiltrating Russia from the Georgian border.

However, Russia has simplified its visa requirements for Georgia?s two breakaway regions ? Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is a source of protest from Tbilisi.