Russia to ease communication with Georgians

Russian State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said that Russia was trying to make communication with Georgians easier, RIA Novosti reports.

He noted that cultural, sports, religious and business contacts had been revived in 2013. The diplomat said that interaction between the two countries had been blocked by the regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Russia issued 40% more visas to Georgia in 2013 than in 2012. The visa mechanism was made more flexible for Georgians.

Karasin reminded that Russia and Georgia had no diplomatic relations and communicated via the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi.