The Russian side does not rule out the restoration of the visa-free regime with Georgia if the authorities continue to pursue a foreign policy based on the desire to normalize relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, Alexei Pushkov, said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on the visa facilitation for Georgia at a press conference.
"I believe that it [simplification of the visa regime - VK] is a logical move from the Russian side. Vladimir Putin spoke about the possibility of abolishing the visa regime. And this is due to the fact that we see a change in the foreign policy of Georgia after Saakashvili's resignation. Georgia doesn't fall under the category of active anti-Russian nations," he said.
Pushkov said that Mikheil Saakashvili, when he was president, conducted joint anti-Russian actions with the president of Poland and the heads of the Baltic countries. "Now we don't see such statements from the Georgian side, but see a certain desire to normalize relations. If the Georgian side will follow this path, then, as I understand it, there will be no obstacles to full restoration of the visa-free regime," the head of the Russian State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs concluded.
As Vestnik Kavkaza reported, the decision on visa facilitation for Georgian citizens came into force in Russia today, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Starting from December 23rd, 2015, Georgian citizens will be provided with business, work, study and humanitarian visas of any length of time, as well as private visas regardless of the relationship between the inviting and invited persons on the basis of valid invitations issued in a manner stipulated by the Russian Federal Migration Service authorities, the ministry added.
"The Russian side is firm about making further steps aimed at easing conditions for communication between citizens of the two countries and does not rule out the introduction of a visa-free regime on the basis of reciprocity," the foreign ministry noted.
Russians can visit Georgia freely, but Georgian citizens must get a visa permit to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his 11th annual press conference that Russia is ready to abolish the visa regime with Georgia.
The leader of the Free Georgia party, Kakha Kukava, urged the Georgian authorities to take steps to introduce a visa-free regime for the citizens of the republic.
