Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili reacted on her social media account, Russia’s abolition of the visa application for Georgian citizens as of May 15, and the termination of the bans on the flights of Russian airline companies to Georgia and the tourism companies on the sale of tour packages to Georgia.
Describing this decision of Russia as a “provocation”, Zurabishvili said, “As long as Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and occupies our lands, the resumption of direct flights to Georgia and the abolition of visa requirements are unacceptable.” used the phrase.
President Zurabishvili claimed that Russia’s decision to abolish the visa application may create tensions between political parties in Georgia.
Arguing that Russia made similar decisions in line with its own interests, Zurabishvili said, “As long as Russia is an aggressive country that occupies the territory of our country and is an aggressor for the whole world, we do not need neither the abolition of the visa application nor the resumption of flights. This behavior is untimely and unacceptable.” he said.
Zurabishvili invited the Georgian government to hold the security council meeting and decide to apply 3-month visas to Russian citizens due to his country’s security concerns.
Pointing out that his country stands in solidarity with Ukraine today, Zurabishvili said, “We don’t need gifts today as if we were giving up something from Russia.” said.
Putin signed today
Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the decrees he signed today, abolished the visa application for Georgian citizens as of May 15, and ended the bans on the flights of Russian airline companies to Georgia and the sales of tour packages by tourism companies to Georgia.
After the anti-Russia protests in Georgia, on 21 June 2019, Putin temporarily banned Russian airline companies from flying to Georgia and sales of tour packages to this country.
After the “South Ossetia War” between the two countries in 2008, Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia and applied visas to Russian citizens. In 2012, Georgia unilaterally abolished the visa application to Russia, with the decision of the then President of Georgia Mihail Saakashvili.
The Russian Federation began applying visas to Georgian citizens in 2000.