Yuri Veselov, military observer

The decree of President Vladimir Putin of May 10 reads: “I decide: 1. To establish that from May 15, 2023: citizens of Georgia enter the Russian Federation and leave the Russian Federation without issuing visas on the basis of valid documents proving their identity (passport of a citizen of Georgia, diplomatic passport, service passport, sailor’s book, travel document for returning to Georgia), with the exception of citizens entering the Russian Federation in order to carry out labor activities or for a period of more than 90 days for a temporary stay in the Russian Federation, including for education.

The Russian government was forced to introduce a visa regime with Georgia at the end of 2000 in connection with the infiltration of militants from this country to Russia who were hiding on Georgian territory. In response, Tbilisi also introduced restrictive measures, but in 2012 it abolished them and unilaterally established a visa-free regime for Russian citizens. Diplomatic relations between the states were interrupted in 2008 and have not been resumed so far.

In addition, the same Decree introduced permission for the flights of passenger aircraft of Russian and Georgian airlines of both countries. The leadership of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation announced its readiness to resume air communications between Russia and Georgia, to receive civil aircraft of Georgian airlines and to carry out their maintenance in the required volume. According to preliminary information, at the initial stage of messages, the total flow may be 21 flights per week.

Air communication between the countries was interrupted in June 2019 in connection with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation in response to the provocative cancellation of the participation of Russian parliamentarians in the international conference of Orthodoxy in Tbilisi and the speeches of Georgians with anti-Russian slogans held in the capital. By order of July 8 of the same year, Russian tour operators and agents were recommended to curtail ties with colleagues from Georgia. The same decree banned the flights of civil aircraft of Georgian airlines to the Russian Federation.

In light of the Presidential Decree of May 15, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled the recommendation, introduced on June 21, 2019, that Russians should not visit Georgia. It can be said that relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are developing “according to a sinusoid” – sometimes up, sometimes down. But in its relations with its southern neighbor Russia has always been guided exclusively by retaliatory actions. Even now, a simple and prompt decision to lift restrictive measures against Georgia is a good example of the reaction of the Russian leadership not only to the keen desire of the Georgians living in Georgia and Russia to facilitate related messages, but also Moscow’s response to the continued importance of this country in the geopolitical system of the South Caucasus , Russia’s interest in restoring bilateral relations.

It must be admitted that this step by the Russian Federation does not at all mean the beginning of rapprochement with the Georgian authorities or the overcoming of fundamental contradictions and rather sharp disagreements. The lifting of restrictions is aimed, first of all, at facilitating communication between relatives, traveling citizens, activation and expansion of transport flows and trade relations. Undoubtedly, this will (as always) contribute to the intensification and strengthening of people’s diplomacy and cultural cooperation.

There is no doubt that the adoption of the Decree was influenced by urgent requests from the leaders of the Georgian diaspora living in Russia, whose number, according to unofficial data, exceeds one million people. In turn, the Russian tourism industry will have the opportunity to sharply intensify work in the Georgian direction, the flow of travelers to Georgia in the summer-autumn season can approximately double and amount to about three million citizens.

Quite naturally, the executive branch of Georgia, which is responsible for the state of the country’s economy, welcomes President Vladimir Putin’s decision. “All decisions that will make life, movement and business activity easier for our citizens are positive and welcome… I urge countries that did not like Russia’s decision to also introduce a visa-free regime. For example, appoint direct flights with America, introduce a visa-free regime for our citizens to the United States, to China, and so on,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said mockingly.

Opinion polls conducted in Georgia show that more than 80 percent of the population supports the lifting of Russian restrictions.

At the same time, the President of this country, Salome Zurabishvili, called the decision of the Russian leadership a provocation, called for reducing the visa period for Russian citizens to three months. But it is unlikely that her proposal will be supported by the people. And what kind of reaction can be expected from a former citizen of France, who received a higher basic education, including at Columbia University in New York, and who made a political career in the system of the French foreign ministry?

And perhaps the most important should be noted.

No matter how they treat the Georgian authorities, who continue to demonstrate their orientation towards the United States and Western Europe, they pragmatically assess the geostrategic position of their country. Georgia, despite curtailed cooperation with Russia, continues to expand mutual trade relations through non-state commercial structures.

The politicians in power in Georgia are well aware that Russia is vitally interested in maintaining stability in the South Caucasus and does not threaten the national security of their state, and therefore will continue the policy of “mirror” adequate response to Tbilisi’s actions against Moscow. And this is a demonstrative example of the attitude of the Russian Federation towards neighboring countries.

Georgia does not officially support the sanctions imposed by the United States and the collective West against Russia, and, despite strong American pressure, so far refuses to supply Ukraine with Soviet-made weapons, ammunition and military equipment. It is possible that it was the position of the Georgian leadership on this delicate issue that prompted the Russian president to adopt the Decree.

The main thing, however, is that recently Georgia has been demonstrating a “revisionist” approach to the “party line”, that is, the Anglo-Saxons. In Washington, the opening of air traffic is perceived with extreme irritation. The US State Department has issued a stern warning against flights by Russian airlines under US sanctions. The states are threatening to impose sanctions against Georgia if they are violated.

But the Georgians weren’t afraid until… Improving Russian-Georgian relations will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the political situation in the Caucasus region and, hopefully, will serve as a positive example for Tbilisi’s neighbors, both geographically close and more distant, formerly part of Soviet Union.