Prospects and planning: Russia expects Georgia to take steps to normalize relations
Russia is interested in a full-fledged normalization of relations with Georgia. Moscow is ready to develop pragmatic cooperation with Tbilisi where it is beneficial to both sides, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia. The point is for Georgia to decide on its future actions with regard to the Russian Federation, the diplomat noted. At the same time, Moscow and Tbilisi are developing trade and economic relations. The tourist flow from Russia to the republic is also growing. What areas are currently relevant for cooperation between Moscow and Tbilisi and whether there are prospects for restoring diplomatic relations can be found in the Izvestia article.
How is the political dialogue between Russia and Georgia developing?
Restoring a political dialogue with Georgia remains one of the key tasks of the Russian Federation in Transcaucasia. Since 2008, Moscow and Tbilisi have had no diplomatic relations, although trade ties are actively developing.
"As far as I remember, the Georgian side made a number of statements about how it sees the future of relations with Russia," Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia. — We remain ready to develop healthy pragmatic cooperation with Georgia where it is beneficial for both sides, and we are ready to follow the path of bilateral normalization with Tbilisi. So, in general, the point is for Tbilisi to decide on its future actions.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze
Official Tbilisi has repeatedly stated that it stands for a peaceful and pragmatic approach in relations with Moscow. At the same time, Georgia considers it impossible to restore diplomatic relations with Russia, since Moscow has recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "We have no diplomatic relations [with the Russian Federation] and there is no space for the restoration of diplomatic relations <...> because of 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," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in February 2025.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008 after Georgia launched military operations against the republics on the night of August 8. Their current status in Tbilisi is called occupation by Russia. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the purpose of the fighting was to protect the residents of the region.
By the way, the Georgian authorities actually admit that it was the actions of Mikhail Saakashvili, who was then president of the country, that damaged the territorial integrity of the country. In 2024, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, promised that the authorities would "find the strength" to apologize for the war with South Ossetia. He accused Saakashvili of starting a war on orders from outside.
Although Russia and Georgia do not have diplomatic relations, the parties continue contacts, in particular, within the framework of the Geneva discussions on Transcaucasia, which has existed since 2008. Abkhazia, South Ossetia, the United States, the UN, the OSCE and the EU are also participating in the format. The work is traditionally conducted in two groups: on security and humanitarian issues. The Geneva discussions remain the only platform for dialogue between Tbilisi, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. The Russian Federation has repeatedly called on Georgia to sign a legally binding document on guarantees of non-use of force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to begin the process of delimitation and demarcation of borders.
Shota Khabareli, a member of the Georgian parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, stated in a conversation with Izvestia that relations with Russia have not actually changed.
— Time will tell whether there are prospects for activating these relations. Not yet," he said.
Trade cooperation between Russia and Georgia
The absence of official diplomatic relations does not hinder the development of economic ties. They began to grow rapidly after the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2012.
According to the National Statistics Service of Georgia, the trade turnover of the two countries in the first six months of 2025 amounted to almost $1.3 billion, which is 7% more than in the same period of 2024. Russia ranks third among the largest trading partners. In six months, its share in the volume of foreign trade amounted to 10.7%. Exports of goods from Georgia to Russia in January–June exceeded $332 million (a decrease of 2% year-on-year), while imports amounted to more than $950 million (an increase of 10.5%).
Georgia actively imports Russian energy resources. So, in the first half of 2025, Tbilisi purchased natural gas in the amount of $110.56 million, which is 26.5% more than the same indicator last year ($87.4 million). This is a record for the last 10 years.
The parties are also developing tourism. In 2023, direct flights between the parties were restored. This, in turn, could not but affect the growth of the tourist flow. It was travelers from the Russian Federation who most often came to Georgia in the first half of 2025, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported, their number amounted to 581.09 thousand. The ruling party confirmed to Izvestia that the tourist flow is indeed growing. Cultural relations are also one of the vectors of development.
— It happens that there are diplomatic relations between states, but there are no real ones. Moscow and Tbilisi, on the contrary, are now developing relations in various fields, despite the lack of diplomatic contacts," Petre Mamradze, the former head of the Georgian president's office, told Izvestia. — Russia, at least considering the asymmetry of our countries, of course, receives few of our products. But it is very important for Georgia that our products enter the Russian market: this increases budget revenues and brings profits to our farmers.
Red lines and prospects
The cooling of relations between Tbilisi and the European Union plays into the hands of Russian-Georgian relations. Although the country remains a candidate for EU membership from 2023, its further European integration is effectively frozen.
Georgian Dream had previously initiated the adoption of the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. Also, with her submission, the republic approved a law banning LGBT propaganda (the movement is recognized as extremist in Russia). After that, the West has repeatedly stated that the "Georgian Dream" is allegedly pro-Russian. The party itself denied these accusations.
They explained their actions by the fact that after the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, calls began to appear from the West to open a "second front" in Georgia to confront the Russian Federation, as well as to impose sanctions against Moscow.
After winning the parliamentary elections in October 2024, Georgia abandoned negotiations on joining the European Union by the end of 2028 and any EU budget grants for this period.
At the same time, Russia regularly records attempts by the West to pursue a policy of containment in the South Caucasus, driving wedges into relations with traditional allies and neighbors.
— Georgia is a good example. Westerners continue to twist the arm, blackmailing the Georgian leadership and people with sanctions, demanding new bloody adventures against the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia," Dmitry Masyuk, Deputy Director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said earlier.
It is really difficult to predict the possible restoration of diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia now. Moscow's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is indeed a red line, Petre Mamradze summed up.
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