Restoring railway service between Georgia and Azerbaijan is important for both countries - PM

Mutual trips between Georgia and Azerbaijan are very important, including for further deepening the traditional friendship that binds the two nations, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said, commenting on the restoration of rail communication between the countries.

Azerbaijani media, citing a source in the government, reported that a passenger train will start running on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from April 2025; an agreement was reached between the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Transportation will be carried out by trains of the Swiss company Stadler.

"It is very important that as many people as possible travel from Georgia to Azerbaijan, from Azerbaijan to Georgia, including for further deepening interethnic relations, the traditional friendship that binds our two nations," the prime minister said.

The head of the Georgian government noted that the issue of resuming rail traffic was discussed during his visit to Baku and thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev

"During my visit to Azerbaijan, we discussed this issue with President Aliyev, and I would like to personally thank him for his responsiveness to our country," Kobakhidze said.

Of course, it is fundamentally important that there is high mobility between Georgia and Azerbaijan, since this has a "mutually beneficial burden" for both countries, the prime minister noted.

Train traffic between Georgia and Azerbaijan has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020.

The Public Relations Department of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC told Azerbaijani media that international passenger traffic is currently suspended due to the closure of Azerbaijan's land borders.

The special quarantine regime due to COVID-19 in Azerbaijan has been extended until 06:00 on April 1, 2025, according to the order signed by the Prime Minister of the Republic Ali Asadov.

The quarantine regime includes, among other things, the closure of land borders, including with Georgia. Earlier, this period was extended until January 1, 2025.

In March 2023, the Government of Azerbaijan lifted a number of restrictions related to the special quarantine regime.

Thus, entry into the republic by air was allowed for citizens of foreign countries and citizens of other countries permanently residing in these countries, as well as stateless persons.

At the same time, a COVID passport (a document confirming full vaccination against COVID-19 or the presence of an immunity certificate) is not required in the following cases:

upon entry into Azerbaijan of citizens of foreign countries and citizens of other countries permanently residing in these countries, as well as stateless persons;

when visiting a number of places (venues for festive events, sports and health facilities, large shopping centers, catering facilities, hotels, on intercity (interdistrict) transport routes and other places for which such a requirement has been established).

Reprinted from https://sputnik-georgia.ru/