Govt' Press Service Releases Information on Abashidze-Karasin Meeting

The press service of the Government of Georgia has released information about the recent meeting between Zurab Abahidze, the Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia, and Grigory Karasin, a member of the Federal Council of the Russian Duma, which took place in Prague.

The press service reported that at the meeting, Zurab Abashidze raised the issue of the illegal detention of Georgian Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili by the de facto Tskhinvali authorities. 

As the Prime Minister's Special Representative stated at the meeting, Vazha Gaprindashvili's immediate release was necessary. In response, Karasin noted that Vazha Gaprindashvili was likely to return to his family in the near future. In this context, Abashidze spoke about the difficult human rights and humanitarian situation in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, which will be discussed at the next round of the Geneva International Talks.

The parties discussed the dynamics of trade-economic, transport and humanitarian relations between the two countries in January-October 2019. Speaking about transport relations, the Russian side noted that Moscow would consider restoring direct air flights between Georgia and Russia, though no exact timelines were specified.

The date of the next meeting in Prague will be specified in the near future.

By Ana Dumbadze