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Russia relaxes procedures for issuing visas to Georgians

The visa rules were introduced between Georgia and Russia in 2000 at the initiative of the Russian government

TBILISI, November 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has simplified procedures for issuing visas to Georgian citizens, Georgian prime minister’s special envoy for Russia Zurab Abashidze told reporters on Thursday.

“Over the past several months the Russian side has been gradually simplifying procedures for issuing visas to certain categories of Georgian citizens, in particular, to relatives, business people, members of different professional associations and creative unions,” he said.

The visa rules were introduced between Georgia and Russia in 2000 at the initiative of the Russian government. In return, Georgia introduced visas for Russian citizens. Since 2004 Georgia had relaxed visa rules for Russians, who received their visas upon their arrival in Georgia. Since October 2010 Russian citizens residing in the North Caucasus republics have been granted the right to enter Georgia without visas and stay there for 90 days. On March 1, 2012, Georgia abolished visa rules for Russians.

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