Thursday’s decision will still keep the door to Russia close to Georgian tourists.
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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Russia to Lift Most Curbs on Visas for Georgians
Russia will start issuing entry visas for Georgians on Friday in the Kremlin’s first major step to restore relations with Tbilisi after last fall’s enduring standoff. The political settlement, however, is yet to be reached.
Russia is resuming issuing student, business, work and transit visas for Georgian citizens on Friday, the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi said Thursday. Russian officials said the move was aimed to “stabilize Russian-Georgian relations.”
Moscow stopped visa issuing for Georgians alongside imposing trade and energy sanctions on the country to react to the arrest of five Russian officers in Georgia who were charged with spying. Ties between the two countries were virtually severed.
The Kremlin started easing pressure on Tbilisi in January, seeing that sanctions are only making its Caucasian neighbor even less dependent. On January 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent back Ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko to Tbilisi.
In May, Moscow announced partial resumption of visa issue only for those Georgians who have close relatives in Russia.
Thursday’s decision will still keep the door to Russia close to Georgian tourists who used to account for the largest part in the Georgian flow to Russia. Moscow and Tbilisi are thus far from resuming good relations. Economic conflicts are sure to be over before long, but political differences are likely to persist. Kommersant sources say that Georgia insists that Russia break off ties with South Ossetia’s president Eduard Kokoity and deal only with Tbilisi-backed Dmitry Sanakoev. Tbilisi is ready to offer a lot for the recognition of Sanakoev administration, but Moscow does not look ready for this step.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 20, 2007
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