Putin waives visas for Georgians, restrictions on Russian flights to country

Vladimir Putin has waived the ban that used to prohibit Russian air companies from flying to Georgia. He has also cancelled visa requirements for Georgian nationals entering Russia, the government website says.

There will be seven flights between Moscow and Tbilisi every week; those will be arranged by Russian air companies. “Currently, the companies are preparing to restore flights. Russian-made planes will be used,” Russia’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement.

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has called Russia’s recent decision “yet another provocation”. “The comeback of direct flights and the cancellation of the visa mode are unacceptable when Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine and occupies our land,” she wrote.

Zourabichvili called for stricter conditions of stay for Russians in the country and came out against restoring air traffic with Russia in January.

“I do not welcome restoring flights to Russia! While all of our partner countries are expressing deepest solidarity with Ukraine’s selfless fight via words or actions, the government and the leading party’s position is unclear to me and, I’m certain, to the majority of people,” Zourabichvili said back then.

Russia stopped direct air flights to and from Georgia in July 2019. Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, stated that flights will be restored once “the situation in Georgia is no longer Russophobic”.

“I am glad that contacts between people are actively developing in our country. Last year, I was told, Georgia’s GDP grew by 10%, largely due to tourism and trade relations with the Russian Federation. I hope that we will be able to resume direct flights soon,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in January 2023.

“When it comes to easing things for our nationals, we welcome such decisions,” Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party, said in response.