Relations between Russia and Georgia have become much more informed after Georgia had elections, and Saakashvili left the country, said the head of the international Committee of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov.
MOSCOW, 17 Dec. The prospect of the abolition of visas with Georgia arose due to a more relaxed tone in relations between the two countries, compared with the time when the President was Mikhail Saakashvili, the head of the international Committee of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov.
Now Russians can visit Georgia without visas, but citizens of the Republic must obtain a visa to visit Russia. President Vladimir Putin’s big annual press conference stated that Moscow is ready to cancel visa regime with Georgia. Answering the question about the prospects of restoring relations between the countries, Putin noted that the blame for the events of 2008 and “degradation” of bilateral relations rests on the shoulders of the Georgian leadership “entirely”. Russia was not the initiator of the collapse of the relationship, but ready to recover, the President said.
“A more relaxed tone of our relations and prompted the President to make possible the prospect of the abolition of visas. Over the past year, there are no obvious tensions between Russia and Georgia I believe that for Georgia it would be another additional financial support, because the country is not rich, is in a difficult situation,” said Pushkov journalists.
He recalled that previously a large number of Georgian citizens came to work in Russia, supported families.
According to him, relations between Russia and Georgia have become much more informed after Georgia had elections, and Saakashvili left the country. “The current Georgian government, in principle, has proved that hostility to Russia may not be the defining feature of foreign policy of Georgia as it was under the previous leadership. It is obvious that with Saakashvili in power were people of the Pro-Russophobic sentiments. Now is more balanced, you know that Georgia has interests that link it with Russia, particularly economic ties,” added Pushkov.
“I think the progress is there, the relationship gradually improved, Putin said, outlined the steps that could be taken by Russia did Not want Georgia in relapsed anti-Russian hysteria. If we establish relations, we are ready”, — said Pushkov.
Critical questions, key statements, photos from the event and video — online-a report from the press conference of Vladimir Putin on ria.ru >>
