Georgian diplomat praises Russia's intention to ease visa regime for citizens of Georgia

TBILISI, December 18. /TASS/. Georgian Prime Minister’s special envoy for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze has said that Tbilisi "will push ahead with efforts to overcome the stalemate in relations with Russia." "Yesterday we heard a statement about Russia’s intention to cancel or significantly simplify visa regime for citizens of Georgia," Abashidze told reporters ahead of the country’s government session. "We are committed to breaking the deadlock in relations with Russia, there are small signs indicating that this process is underway." He believes that "the cancelation or simplification of visa regime will allow many Georgian citizens to take serious problems off the table and will make it easier for them to communicate with their relatives in Russia." Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was ready to restore relations with Turkey and to cancel visa regime with it. "As for the visa regime, yes, we believe that we are ready to cancel it," he told his annual news conference. Read more