Russia has not received any official notification from Georgia concerning the cutting of diplomatic ties, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
Grigol Vashadze, Georgia”s deputy foreign minister, said last Friday that Tbilisi would sever diplomatic ties with Moscow over its recognition on August 26 of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Citing the Russian ambassador in Tbilisi, Andrei Nesterenko said that “we have not received any official documents or notification from Georgia on the cutting of diplomatic ties.”
Nesterenko pointed to media reports saying that Tbilisi is concerned over the consequences of the move for Georgians in Russia, mostly businessmen and Georgians married to Russians.
“I can only repeat that the [Georgian] move [to cut diplomatic ties with Russia] will not contribute to Georgia”s advance toward a civilized dialogue and a discussion of all bilateral issues of mutual interest,” the Russian diplomat said.
Commenting on the recent conflict in South Ossetia and Russia”s adherence to the Medvedev-Sarkozy peace plan, Nesterenko said Russia had pulled out all its regular troops from Georgia when honoring all its commitments to peace in South Ossetia.
He accused Tbilisi of making attempts to restore its defenses in the conflict zone and staging provocations against Russian military personnel there.
“Activity aimed at restoring Georgian defenses is being witnessed in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone,” Nesterenko said.
