Georgia is ready to restore air links with Russia, a spokeswoman for the Georgian president said on Thursday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday at a European and Asian media forum held in Moscow that he hoped a time would come when Russia and Georgia would end mutual visa requirements and direct flights between the countries would be restored.

"Today citizens of Russia, with the exception of those who are working in Russian special services, can enter Georgia in a simplified manner. Georgia states today that it is ready both for restoring air links and opening the Verkhny Lars [border checkpoint]," Manana Mandzhagaladze said.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were cut off following a five-day war in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.

Russia closed the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in July 2006 for repairs and upgrading. The modernization of the Verkhny Lars vehicle checkpoint, the only one along the Russian-Georgian border, was completed in May. The reopening of the Kazbegi-Verkhny Lars was hampered after the two former Soviet states broke off diplomatic relations.

TBILISI, December 10 (RIA Novosti)