Zurab Abashidze: no deal on opening of Russian culture centre in Tbilisi was made

Georgian PM’s Special Representative in Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze did not confirm the information on the opening of the Russian culture centre in Tbilisi in mid-December. Photo: government of Georgia press office. 

Agenda.ge, 29 Nov 2019 - 14:57, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian PM’s Special Representative in Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze says that no bilateral agreement on the opening of a Russian language and culture centre in Tbilisi was made during his meeting with Russian Former Deputy FM Gregory Karasin in Prague yesterday.

During the meeting Mr. Karasin made a short comment that the Russian Visa Centre, which is located in Tbilisi and is a commercial structure, wishes to offer commercial language courses. I told him that I would familiarise myself with the issue after returning back to Tbilisi,” Abashidze told Netgazeti. 

Karasin announced the opening of a Russian language and culture centre in Tbilisi in mid-December while speaking with Russian media outlets after the meeting.

Abashidze told Netgazeti that the Russian Visa Centre is a commercial organisation cooperating with the Russian interest section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia, issuing visas to Russia. 

Karasin and Abashidze met in Prague after a five-month delay to discuss trade and economic relations as the two countries restored economic cooperation only back in 2013, under the Georgian Dream leadership. 

Russia and Georgia suspended diplomatic ties after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.