Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili firmly rejected the idea of restoring diplomatic relations with Russia, responding to recent comments made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

“Under the conditions of occupation, it is impossible to talk about the restoration or normalisation of relations,” Botchorishvili stated, referring to Russia’s continued presence in Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.

“Everyone knows well what the problem is between Georgia and Russia – the occupation of our territories, and this is precisely the number one obstacle to normalising relations,” she emphasized.

Botchorishvili also criticized how such statements are being interpreted within Georgia. “It is interesting how the opposition uses such statements in Georgia,” she said, adding, “This is being done to give them life, so that opposition forces, in the absence of an agenda, may create new topics and comment on them.”

Reiterating her stance, she concluded: “Georgia has two Russia-occupied regions, and it is unthinkable for us to talk about restoring diplomatic relations under these conditions.”