U.S. ready to issue visas to residents of Georgia's breakaway regions with neutral documents

Georgia, Tbilisi, Aug. 27 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia / The U.S. has completed internal technical procedures and now the U.S. embassies and consulates are ready to issue visas to holders of neutral travel documents, the office of the Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Eka Tkeshelashvili reports. As noted, on June 5 the United States recognised neutral travel documents. A neutral travel document and identity card are documents of a humanitarian nature which allows residents of the occupied territories of Georgia to receive social services and the opportunity of free movement abroad. Currently, these documents are recognised as being neutral by Japan, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, USA, Bulgaria, Poland and Israel. Military action was launched in the Georgian territory of South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later Russian troops occupied the city of Tskhinvali and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognised republics as the occupied territories. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az