Russia Imposes Simplified Visa Regime with Adjara

Russian Foreign Ministry announced that ?simplified visa regime will be enforced from December 9? for the population living in Georgia?s Adjara Autonomous Republic.

A move further irritated Georgia?s central authorities, which has not been informed in advanced regarding the Moscow?s decision.

Decision follows Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze?s a week-long visit to Moscow last week.

Russia already maintains unilaterally imposed non-visa regimes with the Georgia?s breakaway Abkhaz and South Ossetian regions that also causes protest of the Georgian authorities.

Visa regime between Russia and Georgia was introduced on December 5, 2002, as Russia withdrew from 1992 Bishkek Agreement, foreseeing visa-free relations between the former Soviet republics.

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