Grigory Karasin: Russia Ready to Reinstate Diplomatic Relations with Georgia

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Russia is ready to restore diplomatic relations with Georgia, following a positive report of the European Commission of December 18th on Georgia's visa liberalization with the EU. Moscow simplified visa rules for Georgia on December 23rd. 

Karasin said Georgia’s ex-President Saakashvili decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, after he took part in ‘coping with aggression from Georgia and recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.’ 

According to the Russian deputy minister, the initiative to cease diplomatic relations were the result of the Georgian President. “We were ready to restore the relations, but they demanded that Russia withdraws its recognition of the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia first."

Russia occupies one fifth of Georgia’s sovereign territory – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia). After the Russian aggression of 2008 in Georgia and the recognition of the two breakaway regions as independent states, the then Georgian government cut the diplomatic ties with the Russian government.