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The News in Brief

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Prepared by Messenger Staff

It is possible that we will have to review the visa regime with Russia, President Zourabichvili says

The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, stated that it is possible for Georgia to review the terms of the visa regime with Russia, because according to her, the existing visa regime is liberal and may be less acceptable under the conditions of this aggression.

Zourabichvili said at a joint press conference with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, that the entry of Russian citizens into Georgia is a challenge and it is important for the public to be sure that all control mechanisms are used so that the entry of Russian citizens does not become a threat.

"As for the entry of Russian citizens into Georgia, it is definitely a challenge, I wouldn't say a threat, but it is a challenge. Among them are former citizens of Georgia who come from the conditions that exist in Russia today, return, but there are also Russian citizens who come to Georgia for various reasons. The most important thing here is for the public to be sure that all control mechanisms are used so that no danger arises, and for this, I think more communication is needed, informing our society that in all respects, all possible threats and issues are actually considered by the government and all measures are taken. Also, it is not excluded that we will have to revise the visa regime, which is quite liberal in today's conditions and which may be less acceptable in the conditions of this aggression, but all this is to be decided by the government and together with the public, by informing it", said Zourabichvili.



The establishment of a visa regime with Russia is not discussed in the parliament, according to Talakvadze

Member of the parliamentary majority Archil Talakvadze said that the establishment of a visa regime with Russia was not discussed in the parliament.

With this, he responded to President Zourabichvili's statement that it is possible for Georgia to review the conditions of the visa regime with Russia.

According to Talakvadze, according to the constitution, the institution of the president is independent and Zourabichvili's statements are not agreed with the government or the parliament.

"The authorities of Georgia and our state consider any person who enters the country on the basis of the legislation and also on the basis of the international conventions and rules of which Georgia is a signatory and oblige. No new decision regarding the visa regime was discussed in the Parliament of Georgia. According to the Constitution, the President of Georgia is an independent institution, and the idea that her statements must be agreed with the government and the parliament is not valid," said Talakvadze.