Karasin: Russia has no intention of withdrawing its recognition of Georgia’s de facto regions
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Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin admits Russia-Georgia relations have improved since 2012 under the Georgian Dream leadership but he stresses Russia will not withdraw its recognition of Georgia’s de facto regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
- After the Russia-Georgia War in August 2008 Russia, Nicaragua and Nauru recognised Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent republics but the rest of the international community unanimously agreed the regions were integral parts of Georgia and were in fact occupied by Russia.
Speaking to a Belarusian news agency, Karasin said Russia would not review it's recognition of the two breakaway regions.
Georgia continues to insist on the fact that we must review our position on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It’s impossible today, it’s a new regional reality,” Karasin told Sputnik Belarus today.
Karasin said: "Russia helped South Ossetia defend its independence in 2008" and after Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, it was followed by "an open, anti-Russian rhetoric” in Georgia.
The Russian official said relations between Russia and Georgia started to normalise when the Georgian Dream Government replaced the United National Movement leadership in 2012.
We are pleased we have restored humanitarian, transport and trade ties,” Karasin said.
He added Russia had also taken several steps to simplify issuing of visas for select Georgian citizens.
Russia believes the "unfriendly statements” voiced by Georgian officials about Russia contradict the efforts to restore constructive relations between the two neighbouring nations.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister said Moscow disliked the "increasing anti-Russian rhetoric in Tbilisi” and the Kremlin’s patience "has limits too”. Georgia's Prime Minister said Georgia’s territorial integrity was the only principle which normalized relations between Georgia and Russia could be built on.
A Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ between Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and Russia will not be reconsidered,Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister GrigoryKarasinsaid after bilateral talks led by Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russiain Prague today.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that it is not holding any negotiations with Russia’s official state bodies over visa-related issues. As a reason the Georgian Ministry said that two countries have no diplomatic relations.
The Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative for relations with Russia says that if it were not for the Abashidze-Karasin meeting format, visa-free travel to the European Union for Georgian citizens would have been much longer in the coming.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has told TASS news agency that his country is concerned by the "activation of NATO and the United States in Georgia.”