Moscow to Tbilisi: No dialogue until “unrealistic” conditions drop

Russia says it sees no preconditions for reinstating a full-fledged political dialogue with Georgia, arguing that official Tbilisi continues to tie this process to conditions that Moscow considers unacceptable. The Russian Foreign Ministry conveyed this position in comments to Izvestia.

According to the ministry, the core issue is “Georgia’s linkage of the restoration of diplomatic relations to Russia’s renunciation of its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is a harmful and unrealistic demand for Georgia itself,” the Foreign Ministry stated. It also stressed that “the recognition of the independence of both ‘republics’ is an irreversible decision.”

At the same time, the ministry reiterated that Russia remains ready to continue normalising relations, but only to the degree that Tbilisi is prepared to engage, emphasising that “the ball is in Georgia’s court.”

At present, Georgia and Russia do not maintain diplomatic relations. Ties were severed by Georgia following the August 2008 conflict, after Moscow recognised the independence of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

Russia introduced a visa regime for Georgian citizens in 2000. Georgia unilaterally abolished this requirement in early 2012. In mid-May 2023, Russia lifted the visa requirement for Georgian nationals—ending a regime in place since 2000—and also removed the ban on direct flights between the two countries, which had been imposed in 2019.

In October 2024, Moscow issued a decree extending visa-free entry to Georgian citizens traveling to Russia for work or for stays longer than 90 days.

By Tamilla Hasanova