So-called South Ossetian Foreign Ministry Comments on Georgia’s Visa Liberalization

So-called Foreign Ministry of Georgia’s breakaway region South Ossetia commented on the approval of visa liberalization for Georgia by the European Parliament. 

The statement says that the benefits of the new regime between Georgia and European Union (EU) have nothing to do with the “citizens of South Ossetia.”

So-called Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia responded to Georgian official’s statements, who said that the benefits of visa liberalization would be offered to the residents of Georgia’s occupied regions.

"The South Ossetian Foreign Ministry once again underlines the fact that the development of relations between the EU and Georgia, including visa-free relations, concerns only the citizens of Georgia and does not apply to the citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia. The offer of the Georgian leadership to an independent state can only be described as sick logic," the statement reads.

Moreover, the so-called Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia stressed that the residents of South Ossetia made a choice in favor of independence 25 years ago, and they do not want to have anything to do with the state of Georgia.

“As Georgia could not fulfill its aggressive plans towards South Ossetia, now it is resorting to tricks,” the statement reads, adding that the citizens of Ossetia also have Russian citizenship and documents and can travel abroad.

“Enough time has passed for the Georgian leadership to realize that the only possible model for relations between Georgia and South Ossetia is the relationship between two equal countries," the statement reads.

The European Parliament voted in favor of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the Schengen Area at the plenary session on February 2nd. The new regime between Georgia and the EU will go into force as soon as the suspension mechanism is activated.

When the process is complete, biometric passport holders will be able to enter the Schengen area, for 90 days within any 180-day period for holiday, business or any purpose, exluding work.

by Thea Morrison