Russia Lifts Visa Restrictions for Georgians

Russia has lifted visa restrictions for Georgian citizens, allowing them to work and stay in the country for over 90 days, just weeks before Georgia's parliamentary elections. This move, seen as a strategic effort by the Kremlin to support the ruling Georgian Dream party, comes amidst increasing tensions with the West and warnings from the EU about potential repercussions if the elections are not free and fair. The new decree, effective immediately, abolishes previous limitations on Georgian workers and students, marking a significant step in the thawing of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, which lack formal diplomatic ties since the 2008 war. While the ruling party has adopted an anti-Western stance, the opposition views the elections as a critical choice between alignment with Europe or Russia. The decision has drawn mixed reactions within Georgia, with some officials criticizing it as a Russian provocation, while others welcomed it from a humanitarian perspective.