Georgian President signs decree abolishing visas for residents of North Caucasus

Georgian President signs decree abolishing visas for residents of North Caucasus.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has signed a decree which introduces a visa-waiver regime for Russian citizens living in the republics and regions in the North Caucasus, Yuga.ru reports.

In accordance with the decree, citizens of Russia - residents of North Ossetia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygeya - will be able to enter Georgia without a visa through the Upper Lars-Kazbegi checkpoint from the 13th of October 2010 for 90 days, presidential spokeswoman Manana Manjgaladze announced today.

According to the ITAR-TASS news agency, she also noted that "a decision has been made to facilitate entry into Georgia by Russian citizens - residents of the North Caucasian republics, who previously had to obtain entry visas to Georgia from the Swiss embassy in Moscow, representing Georgian interests in Russia.
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the decision as "yet another propaganda move." Deputy presidential envoy in the Russian North Caucasian Federal District, Arkady Yedelev, believes that "it can be seen only as a provocation."