MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia does not rule out the introduction of a visa-free regime with Georgia, but Tbilisi's visa liberalization talks with the European Union should be taken into account, Russian State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin said Thursday.
"In principle, we do not exclude the possibility of a visa-free regime with Georgia. Of course, in approaching this issue the relevant processes between the EU and Georgia should be taken into account," Karasin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
He clarified that Russia radically simplified visa requirements for Georgian citizens nearly a year ago, including through private invitations made by any citizen or legal resident of Russia.
Georgia is still not ready to restore diplomatic relations with Russia with occasional confrontational rhetoric, according to Karasin.
Russia gradually reclaimed its key role among Georgia's foreign partners over the past four years, with restored transportation, humanitarian contacts and cultural exchanges, Karasin said.
"But at the same time, Georgia is still not ready to restore diplomatic relations with Russia, which it severed in September 2008. Official Tbilisi periodically 'breaks' into confrontational rhetoric against our country. That, to put it mildly, does not give stability to the aforementioned positive trends," Karasin stressed.
