"The sides stated the number of humanitarian exchanges and contacts between people has intensified. Owing to simplification of the visa regime for Georgian nationals introduced in late 2015… the number of issued visas has doubled and reached 40,000. Karasin confirmed [Russia's] commitment to further simplification of visa regime, not ruling out its cancellation in the long run," the ministerial statement said.
The two sides also discussed the bilateral agreement on trade monitoring signed in 2011. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it was not worth delaying its practical implementation,
In August 2008, Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia in response to Moscow's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the representatives of the new Georgian government that came to power after the election in October 2012, named normalization of relations with Russia one of the top foreign policy priorities. At the moment, the dialogue between Russia and Georgia is carried out within the Geneva discussions, addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict, and regular meetings between Abashidze and Karasin.
