Russia’s lifting of visa regime, travel ban “positive, welcomed” from humanitarian point of view – Georgian PM

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said the Kremlin’s decision on Wednesday to lift visa restrictions and resume direct flights with his country was “positive” and “welcomed” from the humanitarian point of view, which he claimed would ease the lives of “about one million Georgians” living in Russia. 

 

He also said Ukraine enjoyed a visa free regime with Russia before the war and Moldova, another aspirant country for European Union membership, also had it. 

 

“I am asking our western partners: when you are demanding Georgia to stop trade, economic relations with Russia, refuse to resume flights, why are you proceeding with these actions? Why did you give Russia 300 billion in income last year amid its war with Ukraine?” Garibashvili said. 

 

He also added “did anyone impose any sanctions on Russia in 2008 when it invaded Georgia?”.