Russian foreign ministry: Georgian counterpart's claims on Geneva talk postponement "politicised"

The Russian foreign ministry has called its Georgian counterpart's claim about the Russian side breaking off the last round of the Geneva international talks "unfounded" and "politicised" and said the postponement of the meeting had been caused by logistical complications due to the pandemic.

Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said her ministry had been "perplexed" at the statement from the Georgian foreign service on Tuesday and added Russian diplomats had been joined by de-facto representatives from Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in lieu of "serious limitations and logistical issues caused by the pandemic".

Zakharova also added Russia had offered to use video link format as an alternative means for the talks but the proposal had been not accepted by co-chairs of the platform used for discussions on security issues connected to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali in the wake of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

We were perplexed at the October 6 statement of the Georgian MFA about the alleged breaking off of Russian representatives from the postponed 51st round of the Geneva international talks on security and stability in the South Caucasus."

We consider the allegations made against us about the 'undermining of the entire peace process' absolutely unfounded and politicised" - Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova

The ministry spokesperson's response also said Russia "never evaded dialogue with Georgia, including within the Geneva talks", and was involved in "active efforts" for continuing the talks, to be continued in the next round in Moscow on November 6.

The Georgian ministry said on Tuesday reported its "concern" about Russia breaking off the 51st round of the talks, and said the development impeded the "efforts of the Georgian government and the international community to solve the problems of the conflict-affected population".

The ministry called upon Russia to return to the negotiations and fulfil its international obligations, including the EU-mediated August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement on the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Georgian territory.