Russia regrets failure to restore diplomatic ties with Georgia

Moscow regrets that Tbilisi has not facilitated the restoration of
diplomatic relations with Russia, RIA Novosti reports, referring to the
statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Information of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova.

"In response to our proposal to restore diplomatic relations, the Georgian
side once again set forward pre-conditions, namely the abolition of the
formal recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is disappointing,
though hardly surprising to anyone," she said.

Zakharova added that Russia also proposed introducing a mutual
visa-free regime for Georgian and Russian citizens, but no certain
agreements had been reached on this issue.