Russia restricts more visa regulations

Citizens of Georgia who have the right to live or work in Russia can leave Russia only if they have a visa, Russian media reports.

A journalist posted a message on Facebook according to which the nanny of her children, who is a citizen of Georgia, was requested to show her visa at Moscow's airport.

Later, the information was confirmed by human rights defenders.

Moskovskij Komsomolets said that as well as applying to Georgians, the visa requirement has been imposed for citizens of all countries who have not signed a special agreement with Russia.

Human rights activist Bakhrom Ismailov said in a conversation with Moskovskij Komsomolets that the visa requirement came into effect from June 7 this year. He announced the information on the new visa requirements has not been spread in the Russian media.

“You need the broadest consensus, and I think that the Parliament of Georgia will do its best to achieve this,” said Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio after the Venice Commission's plenary session, where the Venice Commission report on the revision of the Constitution of Georgia was discussed.

Russia frequently claims that it intends to simplify visa regulations for Georgia.

After the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, Georgian citizens were only given a visa to travel to Russia if they had been invited by very close relatives.

Georgia’s former government annulled visas for Russian tourists in 2011, however Russia adamantly maintained its complicated procedures.

As it appears, Russia, as usual, goes back on its promises and acts in defiance of all international laws and norms.