Russia and Georgia come to agreement on game rules

Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

A regular meeting between the deputy foreign minister of Russia, Grigory Karasin, and the special envoy of the Georgian President for settlement of relations with Russia, Zurab  Abashidze, took place in Prague. Karasin stated that he doesn’t exclude the possibility of a meeting between President Putin and President Margvelashvili, but the real sensation is his statement that Russia won’t put pressure on Georgia for signing the association agreement with the EU, i.e. it won’t launch an import embargo against Georgian wine, mineral water or agricultural products.

Considering the development of the situation over the European integration of Ukraine, Georgian experts can’t tell what the reason for Moscow’s softness is. It should be noted that the Russian side initiated postponement of the meeting several times. Each time it followed a resolution of the Georgian parliament criticizing Russian activity in Crimea and Ukraine. However, the Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry pointed out that no Georgian ministers visited Kiev in that'll period, while statements by Premier Garibashvili and President Margvelashvili were rather careful.

Ahead of the Prague meeting, the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, expressed his gratitude to the Georgian authorities and special services for their active participation in providing security at the Sochi Olympics. Obviously, there were no troops of the Georgian special services in Sochi, and Bortnikov meant “preventive arrangements” organized by the Georgian Interior Ministry in Georgia. During the Olympics ethnic Chechens and other natives of the North Caucasus (including those who have Georgian passports) were forbidden to leave the country without explanation. Moreover, “suspicious” foreigners connected with the North Caucasus couldn’t arrive in Georgia, despite the visa-free regime. This provoked protests and criticism from numerous human rights non-governmental organizations.

Most probably information on the arrangements was sent to Moscow. And the Russian authorities make it clear that cooperation between the special services, regular valid reports and restraint of the Georgian executive power in the Ukrainian matter are much more important for Moscow than a piece of paper signed by Brussels or statements on striving for NATO membership.

These are the new game rules which were coordinated at the meeting between two high-class diplomats in Prague.