Georgia lifting visa requirement for Russians

Russia simplifies visa rules for Georgian transport drivers

By | January 4th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

The Russia-Georgia border crossing at Larsi. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia has simplified its visa rules for Georgian transit traffic. According to Deputy Economy Minister Natia Mikeladze, Russia informed Georgia about the decision through the Swiss embassy, which acts as an intermediary since formal relations were […]

Georgia-Russia talks: ‘Maniacal hostility’ is over, says Karasin

By | November 22nd, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Zurab Abashidze and Grigory Karasin, negotiators for Georgia and Russia, respectively. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia and Russia met for the fifth time Thursday in Prague within the diplomatic channel established by the government that came to power a year ago. After the meeting, Georgia’s representative Zurab Abashidze said discussions dealt with practical […]

Russia asks for renewed visa talks with Georgia

By | March 24th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Russia again has offered to cancel visa requirements for Georgian citizens, if Georgia creates legal guarantees for Russian citizens to safely visiting the country, which means that Georgia will have to amend its law on the occupied territories. […]

Putin congratulates the Georgian people, not its leader

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – On the 67th anniversary of VE Day, victory in Europe in World War Two, Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to the leaders of the countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as to the two […]

Azerbaijan warns against visiting Georgia’s breakaway regions

By | April 14th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Azerbaijani government warns its citizens about visiting Georgia’s occupied territories. The warning is more matter-of-fact than a previous warning from the Kremlin to Russians who might be tempted to go to Georgia after a visa is no longer needed […]

Georgia calls Russian travel warning a made up danger

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia warns its citizens of going to Georgia, while Georgia responds that the dangers are made up. Russian travel advice for those of its citizens who plan to vacation in Georgia is not the usual notes about vaccines and visas; it warns that […]

Georgia enforces ban on entering breakaway reps the wrong way

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi City Court has sentenced a Russian businessman to pay a fine of about USD 1 200 because he had visited Abkhazia before coming to Georgia. The court found that the businessman had violated a law which bans travel across the borders […]

70% increase in Russian visitors to Georgia

By | April 10th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – About 30 000 Russians have entered Georgia since visa restrictions were lifted February 28. This is seventy per cent higher than the same period last year. Before President Mikheil Saakashvili the liberalized visa rules for Russians, there was visa […]

Georgian security official chimes in on Russian visa move

By | March 16th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – After a top Georgian lawmaker and the foreign ministry came out with critical remarks about a statement by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov about visa rules, Georgia’s security council chief also added his comments. Security Council Secretary Giga […]

Georgia answers Lavrov about canceling law

By | March 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday responded to a request by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov the day before that Georgia should cancel a law that targets some Russians as criminals for having visited Georgia’s breakaway regions. […]

Georgian lawmaker answers Lavrov

By | March 15th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is not going to abolish the law on occupied territories before Russia starts pulling back its occupying troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This was the response Georgia’s ruling party had to a statement by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov […]

Lavrov says Georgia must change law to get visa freedom

By | March 14th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia is ready to cancel its visa requirements for Georgian citizens if Georgia changes the law about the occupied territories, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to the law, Russian citizens who go to Abkhazia or South Ossetia can […]

Georgian leader says election is a way to confront Russia

By | March 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili Monday responded to a Russian invitation to reestablish diplomatic relations by saying Georgians will fight Russia in the parliamentary election this fall. Saakashvili is being challenged in October’s election by a new coalition headed by […]

Putin and Saakashvili both talking about cooperation

By | March 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The days are long gone when Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili spoke of Vladimir Putin’s height, while the Russian leader said he wanted to hang Saakashvili by his private parts. Yesterday’s speeches by both shows that relations between them have […]

Russia offers Georgia visa-free travel, on certain terms

By | March 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Russia offers Georgia visa-free travel and to restore diplomatic relations, but not without conditions. The Russian foreign ministry says in a statement on its website that Georgia first must create a ‘reliable legal environment’ that can guarantee […]

Russian lawmaker calls Georgia’s visa move propaganda

By | March 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – A Russian Duma member calls Georgia’s lifting of visa rules for Russians propaganda. Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said in his annual speech to parliament Tuesday night that he would drop visa requirements for all Russian citizens. Today, […]