“Putin cancels visa regime for Georgian citizens and allows direct flights with Russia”

From now on, visas will only be needed for people entering the Russian Federation for work or for a period exceeding 90 days, including for the purpose of education.

With another decree, Putin lifted the ban on air transport from Russia to Georgia, which had been in effect since June 2019.

Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zurabashvili announced on Wednesday that the Kremlin’s actions are “another Russian provocation”.

“The restoration of direct flights and the lifting of the ban on issuing visas is unacceptable while Russia continues its aggression in Ukraine and occupies our territory,” Zurabashvili emphasized on Twitter.

Relations between the two countries have remained tense since the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, when diplomatic relations between Tbilisi and Moscow were also interrupted.

Russian troops remain in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and there is constant talk of the Kremlin’s desire to annex the territories.

Meanwhile, Moscow has justified the new travel rules with the aim of “consistently promoting communication and contacts between citizens of Russia and Georgia”.