Georgia-Russia envoys meet in Prague
Exports and shipping will increase to Russia, says diplomats

A Georgian special envoy and a Russian politician have met in the Czech Republic to discuss bilateral trade and economic relations.

Georgia’s Special Representative to Russia Zurab Abashidze met with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday. 

The sides discussed the current situation in the Georgian occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions as well as a range of humanitarian, trade and economic issues.

This format of meetings is the only official method of dialogue between Georgia and Russia and the scope of the conversation is limited in scope to economic, trade and other practical issues. Political topics are off the agenda.

The meetings are sporadic but are usually held twice per year.

Representing Georgia at the meeting was Abashidze, Foreign Ministry official Irakli Kvanchakhadze and Economy Ministry’s Transport Department official Ketevan Salukvadze. The Russian side was represented by Karasin, Russia’s Transport Minister’s adviser Igor Petrov and Foreign Ministry official Maxim Litvinov. 

The meeting began on a serious note, with Abashidze highlighting the situation near and in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the creeping occupation by forces at Georgia’s breakaway areas.

Abashidze stressed the systemic kidnapping of Georgian citizens by Russian soldiers, restrictions imposed on the Georgian-speaking local population living in the Gali district currently occupied by Russia and erection of barbed wire fences on Georgian soil was a major threat to Georgia, its people and regional security.

Abashidze said the situation near and in the occupied Tskhinvali region violated fundamental human rights. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge. 

It was emphasised that these actions violated the internationally acknowledged principles of sovereignty and fundamental human rights,” read a statement by the Georgian Government’s press service.

The Russian side was told Georgia would do all it could to inform the world about these "unacceptable” facts. 

After this the meeting progressed to discuss several positive aspects of bilateral relations, mainly regarding export and import of goods.

Both sides noted in the near future the volume of products exported from Georgia to Russia will increase and shipping between the two nations will also strengthen.

Karasin added Russia had discussed rule changes to simplify issuance of Russian visas for Georgian citizens in certain situations. This comes seven years after Russia imposed a unilateral visa regime with Georgia after the Russia-Georgia war in 2008. 

Meanwhile one of the humanitarian issues discussed yesterday was about possible extradition of Georgian citizens serving time in Russian prisons.

Karasin said Russian officials were discussing the possibility to extradite Georgian citizens who had been charged with spying-related offences and were currently serving a sentence in Russian prisons.

This was the second meeting between Abashidze and Karasin this year. The last meeting took place in February 2015 and before than in October 2014.

The date of the next meeting between Abashidze and Karasin has not been scheduled yet. The first Abashidze-Karasin meeting took place in 2012 in Geneva.