Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze does not see the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Russia and claims that it violates the territorial integrity of the republic.
“We do not have diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation and there is no room for restoring diplomatic relations due to the so-called recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. But we are pursuing a pragmatic policy and this is the main component of our policy in relations with Russia“, Kobakhidze said in an interview with the Euronews television channel.
As Kobakhidze noted, Georgia maintains trade and economic relations with Russia and the country plans to continue to have such pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation. Regarding the issue of territorial integrity, Kobakhidze noted that “a peaceful solution is absolutely impossible“. and there is no alternative to resolving this problem by peaceful means alone.
In August 2008, after Georgian troops attempted to take control of Tskhinvali, a Georgian-South Ossetian armed conflict broke out. On August 8, Russia sent troops to protect its citizens and its peacekeepers in the region, which forced the Georgian military to retreat. On August 26, 2008, the Russian Federation recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.