Russia is serious about normalizing relations with Georgia on the sole condition that this state does not become a so-called "bargaining chip" in games against Moscow. This was announced on December 16 by Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Russia is seriously committed to normalizing relations with Georgia. The main thing is that Georgia should not become a "bargaining chip" in anti—Russian games. <...> Tbilisi demonstrates healthy pragmatism and a tendency to multi-vector approach in foreign affairs," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The diplomat stressed that Georgia did not join the coalition directed against the Russian Federation, and also rejected the "reckless scenario" of opening the so-called second front.
Kalugin added that despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries, they are united by active ties, which in turn bring them tangible benefits.
On August 20, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, called on the European Union (EU) countries to stop demanding that his state escalate its relations with Russia. According to him, if the leaders of Western countries want to make their association a project of peace, they should also stop sponsoring extremism.
