On 28 November, the meeting between Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia, and Grigory Karasin, a member of the Federal Council of the Russian Duma (the Prague format) took place.
The Georgian government’s press service reported that the detention of Georgian Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili by the de facto Tskhinvali authorities (Caucasus Watch reported), as well as the dynamics of trade-economic, transport and humanitarian relations between the two countries in January-October 2019 were amongst the discussed topics.
Karasin announced the opening of a Russian language and culture center in Tbilisi in mid-December. "There is no doubt that the Center of Russian Language and Culture, which opens in Tbilisi in mid-December, will play an important role in the development of relations between Russia and Georgia," he said. However, the representative of Georgian side Zurab Abashidze says that there is no bilateral agreement on the opening of a Russian language and culture center in Tbilisi.
Abashidze said that the issue relating to the reinstatement of flights between Russia and Georgia was also brought up Karasin during the meeting. “… Grigory Karasin [brought up the issue] noting that the developments [that] occurred in June had an impact on Russia’s decision to suspend direct flights between Georgia and Russia. [The] Russian envoy did not offer a precise date when the ban will be removed. I told him that to make the decision on this issue is their prerogative. When they will be ready, probably, technically, the flights will resume,” he stressed.
Abashidze also noted that the Georgian-Russian relations still remain in a deadlock.
"Unfortunately, Georgia and Russia are far from having a good-neighborly relationship. Russia is aware as well that our political ties remain in a rather deep deadlock. No way out of this impasse can be seen," he said.
The Prague format is the only form of high-level diplomatic contact between Georgia and Russia. It started in 2012 and were initiated by the founder of the ruling party “Georgian Dream” Bidzina Ivanishvili. The format was launched in order to improve the relations with Russia. As opposed to the Geneva International Discussions, the Abashidze-Karasin talks do not focus on political issues but mainly address issues related to trade, economic, humanitarian and cultural aspects of the bilateral relationship.
