Javakhk Armenian address appeal to Russia
The strained relations between Georgia and Russia have directly affected visa-free regime between the two countries.
However, Georgia has recently introduced visa-free travel for Russians, with President Mikhail Saakashvili signing an order that allows Russian citizens to enter the country without visa.
The news was immediately welcomed by ordinary inhabitants of both countries.
Russia-based Javakhk Armenian Compatriotic Union has addressed an appeal to the Russian Federation asking the country's authorities to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens.
"We believe that it will facilitate human, economic and humanitarian contacts between people in Georgia and Russia and open perspectives for healthy economic collaboration.The most important is that the abolition of visas for Georgian citizens can restore the age-old fraternal friendship between the Russian and Georgian peoples," said the Union.
On February 28, Saakashvili suggested "abolishing visas for citizens of Russia on a unilateral basis".
"Let every citizen of the Russian Federation know that he can come to Georgia without visa to do business, spend vacations on our resorts, visit relatives and friends, etc.," he said.
The visa regime between Russia and Georgia was imposed in 2000 by the Russian government. Georgia followed suit. In 2004, Georgia unilaterally simplified visa requirements for Russian citizens and started issuing 1-3 month visas to them upon arrival in Georgia.
In October 2010, Russian citizens who lived in the North Caucasus were allowed to enter Georgia through the Kazbegi checkpoint and stay in the country for 90 days.
The new rules were applied to the residents of North Ossetia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachayevo-Cherkessia, Adygeya, and other republics in the North Caucasus neighbouring on Georgia.
