Chronology of Diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Russian Federation were established on 1 July 1992.

As a result of the full scale military aggression exercised by Russia against Georgia, occupation of the integral parts of Georgia, and ethnic cleansing provided on these territories and declaration of this regions as an "independent Republics" Georgia break off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation On September 2, 2008.

Ambassadors of Georgia to the Russian Federation

Valerian Advadze- April 1993 - January 1995

Vaja Lordkipanidze- 1995 - August 1998

Malkhaz Kakabadze- September 1998 - May 2000

Zurab Abashidze- July 2000 - February 2004

Konstantin Kemularia- February 2004 - July 2004

Valery Chechelashvili- August 2004 - February 2005

Irakly Chubinishvili- July 2005 - to date

Ambassadors of the Russian Federation to Georgia

Vladimir Zemskiy- 1993 - 1996

Felix Stanevskiy- 1996 - August 2000

Vladimir Gudev- August 2000 - November 2002

Vladimir Chkhikvishvili- November 2002 - July 2006

Viacheslav Kovalenko- July 2006 - to date

 Fields of Co-operation

Intergovernmental co-operation since 2010 has been practically frozen nearly in all directions, except for consultations in Geneva process framework. Participants of Geneva Talks are - Georgia, the Russian Federation USA as an Official Representatives and European Union, OSCE and UN as Mediators.

Economic Co-operation

Till the end of 2005 economic relations between Georgia and Russia were developing sufficiently actively, the turnover was on the rise, the intergovernmental economic commission was functioning. However, the actions undertaken by the Russian side first deterred the rate of development, then practically brought the level of economic co-operation down to minimum, namely:

-         From December 2005, because of the violation of phytosanitary norms, the export of vegetable products was banned from Georgia to Russia;

-         From the end of March 2006 the import and realization of the Georgian wine, wine material, brand and sparkling wine was banned. In the end of April the ban extended to the exported Georgian mineral waters;

-         On 8 July 2006 the only legal check-point on the Georgian-Russian border "Kazbegi - Zemo  Larsi" was closed because of reconstruction works;

-         From 2 October, 2006 Russia severed air, road, sea, and railway links with Georgia.

-      On March1, 2010 check-point "Kazbegi - Zemo  Larsi" was opened, as a result road connection between Georgia and the Russian Federation was restored. Charter aviation connection are executed.

Trade Turnover in the years 2000-2006 (in thousands of USD)

 Commercial dynamic between Georgia and Russia (Million US Dollars)

 Investments

The Russian Federation's direct investments in the Georgian economy increased noticeably in 2003 mainly in the field of energy and recycling industry.

The capacity of Russian investments in Georgia in 2009 comes to amount of 10 253.4 Million US Dollars, and for second quarter of 2010 - 17 603.5 Million US Dollars.

Important Visits

From Georgia

1996, 18-19 March - First official visit of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze to the Russian Federation.

2004, 10-11 February - Working visit of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to the Russian Federation.

2005, 24-25 May - Working visit of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania to the Russian Federation.

2005, 24-25 November - Working visit of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli to the Russian Federation.

2004, 5-6 May; 2005, 25, 6-7 April and 29-30 May - working visits of Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Salome Zourabicvili to the Russian Federation.

 From Russia

1994, 3 February - First official visit of President of the Russian Federation Boris Elczin to Georgia.

2005, 17-18 February -  Working visit of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov to Georgia.

2005, 16 December - Working visit of Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin to Georgia.

Legal Framework

There are more than one hundred legal documents signed between Georgia and the Russian Federation, among them:

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on International Air Transport. 6.10.93

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on Customs Checkpoints 6.10.93

Consular Convention between the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation. 8.10.93

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the sphere of communications. 3.02.94

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on free trade. 3.02.94

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on international  road transport. 3.02.94

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation  on cooperation in the sphere of culture, science and education. 3.02.94

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on coordination in the field of railway transport. 15.09.95

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation  on commerce and navigation. 19.03.96

Agreement between the national bank of the Republic of Georgia and the national bank of the Russian Federation on settlement of payments 10.01.97

Agreement between the Government of Republic of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation and exchange of information in the sphere of fight against violation of the tax law. 9.01.97

Agreement between the Executive Authorities of Georgia and the Federal Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of borders. 03.11.98

Agreement between the Executive Authorities of Georgia and the Federal Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation and mutual assistance in the sphere of fight against illegal financial operations and operations linked with legalization of illegal incomes. 4.06.99

Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the avoidance of double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital. 4.08.99

Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the principles of indirect taxation on the export and import of goods. 10.07.01

Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the sphere of protection of intellectual property. 11.02.2004

Agreement between Georgia and the Russian Federation Terms of Temporary Functioning, Rules and Withdrawal of Russian Military Bases and Other Military Facilities of the Group of Russian Forces in Trans Caucasus (GRVZ) Stationed on the Territory of Georgia 31.03.2006

Link

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation: www.mid.ru