Georgian govt sees no need to abolish visa-free travel with Russia

TBILISI. Oct 17 (Interfax) - The Georgian Finance Ministry, which includes the Customs Service, sees no need to introduce a visa regime with Russia for now, Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said on Monday.

"The currently existing border control mechanisms fully meet the challenges facing the country, and therefore, I personally don't see the need to introduce visa regulations with Russia at this stage," Khutsishvili said at a press briefing commenting on President Salome Zourabichvili's statement she made in Chisinau that the government could consider introducing visas for Russians coming to Georgia.

If the existing border control mechanisms prove inefficient in maintaining the necessary security standards, "we could speak of reviewing the [travel] procedures, but I'd repeat that there is no need for that today," Khutsishvili said.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had also told journalists earlier that the government would not review visa-free travel with Russia for the time being.

Apart from Russia, Georgia also has visa-free travel agreements with nearly 100 countries.