The FINANCIAL — The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili decreed to simplify visa regime with Russia, Grigol Vashadze, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia stated at a special briefing on September4.
Tbilisi imposed a stricter visa regime for Russian nationals last week and formally broke off diplomatic ties with Russia on Tuesday after Moscow recognized breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"Martial law was imposed during military action by Russia's occupying force in Georgia. And the president toughened visa procedures for Russian nationals," Vashadze said.
"Now, after martial law has been cancelled in Georgia, the president as a sign of good will made a decision to reinstate previous regulations for issuing visas," he added. “Situation became calmer, danger of threat for Georgia reduced and we decided not to create extra problems for civil citizens, majority of whom was born in Georgia.”
As Vashadze stated, the decision was at the same time a message to the Northern Empire how a real democratic state should behave.
According to Rustavi2, Russian citizens will be able to travel to Georgia after passing a formal procedure, which includes paying $30 and submitting ID at the Georgian exit points.
“Prior to the restrictions, Russians were able to obtain Georgian visas at any checkpoint on the shared border for $20 dollars. The new rules saw Russians forced to apply to Georgian consulates in third countries,” says Turkish Weekly.
According to Turkish Weekly, Moscow said it was shutting down the consular section at its embassy in Georgia following Tbilisi's formal announcement that it cut diplomatic ties with Russia. It is believed that the move will affect thousands of Georgians living in Russia.
A Russian embassy official said visa applications that had already been submitted would be considered as usual.
“Georgians working in Russia send $1.2-$2 billion back home annually, equivalent to more than 20% of Georgia's budget revenue and accounting for 60% of all foreign money transfers,” writes Turkish Weekly.
Russia has stopped issuing visas to Georgian citizens following the breakup of bilateral diplomatic ties, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on September 3, Xinhua reports.
According to Civil Georgia, the move comes after Russia closed its embassy and consulate in Tbilisi on September 3, after Georgia cut diplomatic ties with Russia.
Georgia has also closed down its embassy in Moscow, but the Georgian Foreign Ministry said it would maintain consulate there with a consul, two vice-consuls and technical staff, Civil Georgia reports.
Meanwhile the EU aims to strengthen its ties to Georgia significantly. This is to take the form of easing visa requirements and putting in place a free trade area, the final declaration stated.
According to Radio Free Europe, if Russia's actions in Georgia called attention to the continuing importance of military factors, the West's response has highlighted the growing importance of other factors, including, but not limited to, capital flows, visa arrangements, and diplomatic activities.
Russia has watched its stock market collapse, the ruble decline in value, and capital flow outward at unprecedented rates. It has forfeited the chance for its citizens to secure visa-free travel to European Union countries in the near future, and faces more restrictions elsewhere. And it has experienced a loss of face as a result of the failure of all but outcast states Belarus and Venezuela to follow its lead in recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia; of the West's decision to slow its admission to the World Trade Organization; and of the effective eclipse of the NATO-Russia Council and the G8, which is rapidly reverting to the G7.
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