A sense of contact: Russia is ready to normalize relations with Georgia

Russia is ready to normalize relations with Georgia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia. The diplomat recalled that the diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed at the initiative of Tbilisi back in 2008 by ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili. It is not only economic ties that play an important role in maintaining dialogue. The Georgian Orthodox Church is currently preparing for the election of a new head. The expert community notes that among the Georgian clergy there are supporters of the confrontation with the Russian Orthodox Church, nevertheless, Metropolitan Shio, Ilia II's successor, remains the main candidate.

Relations between Russia and Georgia

Russia stresses that the prospects for restoring relations with Georgia depend on Tbilisi's actions.

— Everything depends on the Georgian side. It was not Russia that severed relations with Georgia, it was the regime of [ex-President Mikhail] that did it. Saakashvili," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia. — We proceed from the fact that we are ready to go as far in the process of normalization of relations with Georgia as Georgia itself is ready for this.

Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Moscow in 2008 after the South Ossetian War and Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Today, the dialogue between the two countries is supported within the framework of the Geneva discussions on Transcaucasia. The Georgian leadership's gamble to "restore constitutional order" has driven a wedge into the development of dialogue with Russia for years to come. At the end of 2025, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze confirmed that the restoration of diplomatic relations is impossible without the "de-occupation" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia emphasizes that the decision to recognize the statehood of the republics is irreversible.

Nevertheless, Tbilisi is actively developing economic cooperation with Moscow. Russia is one of Georgia's key trading partners. In 2025, trade between the two countries increased by 6% to $2.7 billion. Russia accounts for two thirds of Georgian wine supplies, 90% of fruits, 40% of lemonades and mineral water. Russia is a leading exporter of strategically important products, such as energy and grain. In addition, contacts between ordinary citizens are maintained. In 2023, Russia and Georgia resumed direct flights, which had a positive impact on the mutual tourist flow. According to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, every fourth tourist in Georgia is from the Russian Federation.

Strong church ties are another important factor in the dialogue. The absolute majority of Georgian citizens profess Orthodoxy. For almost half a century, the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church was headed by Ilia II, a proponent of a pragmatic position towards Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia died on March 17, and now a new head of the church must be elected no later than mid-May. The main contender for the post of Catholicos is the current locum tenens, Metropolitan Shio.

— Elijah II was very trusted. His rating has consistently been around 82-83%. And the Georgian Orthodox Church also enjoys a lot of trust in the country," Mamuka Pipia, international secretary of the Solidarity for Peace party, told Izvestia. — We are sure that Shio will succeed, because he continues the work of our patriarch. He appointed him locum tenens during his lifetime. We all trust his choice.

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Meanwhile, supporters of the unity of the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches fear that the new Catholicos may recognize the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Although the GOC did not actually agree with its autocephaly, this issue was discussed for a long time in 2018-2019. There are supporters of recognizing the OCU within the Georgian clergy, but the official position is still restrained.

There are people in the GOC who are ready to involve the church in a geopolitical confrontation with Russia by recognizing the tomos of the Ukrainian church, Archil Sikharulidze, founder of the SIKHA Foundation Research Institute, told Izvestia.

— Not only in the Orthodox Church, but also in society and politics, we see a certain radicalization. There is a certain part that believes that in order to be freed from the "Russian yoke" it is necessary to close all possible doors and spaces for cooperation. But there are very few such people. And this is not something that the majority of the Georgian population will support," the analyst noted.

He explained that Ilia II and the Georgian Orthodox Church actively used good relations with the Moscow Patriarchate to maintain at least nominal control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It should be noted that the Russian Orthodox Church still recognizes the churches of these republics as part of the GOC.

The ruling Georgian Dream supported the previous patriarch. The rapprochement between the government and the church was facilitated, in particular, by the common struggle for the preservation of traditions. The Church positively assessed the adoption of a package of laws "On family values and protection of minors" aimed at LGBT propaganda (the movement is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation), as well as the law on foreign agents. By the way, the actions of the Georgian authorities were condemned by the European Union, announcing the freezing of the integration process with the union. In addition, the EU demands to join the sanctions against Russia because of the Ukrainian crisis, but official Tbilisi has repeatedly stated that it opposes involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

The West has no leverage over the process of electing a new Catholicos in Georgia, Archil Sikharulidze notes. Therefore, the Georgian Dream will be able to ensure that the successor of Ilia II becomes the new head of the church. At the same time, Georgia remains a candidate for EU membership and has not officially abandoned its course towards NATO membership.