The Georgian authorities have not held negotiations with Russia regarding the restoration of diplomatic relations or railway communication, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Monday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk announced on February 12 that the possibility of restoring railway communication between Russia and Georgia through Abkhazia is being discussed.
"We have not had any contact in this regard. If anything new appears in this regard, we will provide the relevant information to the public ourselves," Kobakhidze stated, answering the journalist's question whether the Georgian side had "informal" contact with the Russian side regarding the restoration of diplomatic relations or railway connection.
Russia and Georgia do not have diplomatic relations. the dialogue was maintained in the framework of discussions on Transcaucasia in Geneva. Diplomatic relations were severed by Georgia after Moscow recognized the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26, 2008. Tbilisi does not recognize the sovereignty of these republics, considering them occupied territories.
