Russia on Wednesday canceled the visa regime for Georgian citizens and also resumed direct flights to the country that had been banned since 2021, a decree signed by Russian president Vladimir Putin said. 

According to the decree, the visa regime for Georgian citizens will be canceled from May 15 and they will be able to enter the territory of Russia with a passport. 

The exception applies to those citizens who come to Russia for work or plan to stay for more than 90 days.

Russia canceled visa free travel with Georgia following its invasion of the country in 2008, while direct flights were canceled after large rallies in the Georgian capital in July 2021, sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian state legislature.