Russia has described as a provocation a decision by the Georgian authorities to scrap visas for residents of Russia’s North Caucasus republics, reports RIA Novosti.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“The attempt itself to divide Russia’s population into different categories contradicts civilized interstate communication norms,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tbilisi’s move is yet another attempt to “destabilize the situation in the North Caucasus” and “draw attention away from the Georgian authorities’ destructive policies towards [the breakaway Georgian republics of] South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” the ministry said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said on Monday that Georgia was planning to introduce a visa-free regime with Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Adygeya.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said that the visa-free regime would come into effect on October 13. Russians outside the North Caucasus will still need a visa to enter Georgia.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Georgia’s decision, which had not been discussed with Russia, was “yet another propagandist move.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tbilisi broke off diplomatic ties with Moscow after a five-day war in August 2008 over Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Russia recognized South Ossetia and another breakaway republic, Abkhazia, shortly after ceasefire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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