South Ossetia-Russia visa-free regime to start in March

The agreement on mutual visa-free travels between citizens of South Ossetia and Russia will be in force since March 2010. This was stated by Murat Dzhioev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 30, 2009, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin approved the draft intergovernmental agreement with South Ossetia on mutual visa-free travels of citizens of two countries, and on February 1, the agreement was signed between Russia and South Ossetia. A similar agreement between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia was signed by foreign ministers of Russia and Abkhazia on October 2, 2009.

"The agreement assumes that citizens of both countries, irrespective of their residence, may enter, exit, transit and stay in the territory of the other signatory during 90 days by one of the valid documents, identifying the person and citizenship of the persons living in our countries," said the minister.

Now, within 30 days, according to Mr Dzhioev, the parties should exchange samples of such documents, which allow entrance and stay in the territory of the neighbouring country, as the "Interfax" writes.