Georgia voices concern over Russian FM's Abkhazia visit

By Davit Kachkachishvili

TBILISI, Georgia

President Giorgi Margvelashvili on Tuesday expressed concern over Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia.

Margvelashvili said it was worrying that Russia responded to "constructive" steps of Tbilisi with acts that were "against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

He also called on Moscow to establish a "constructive" dialogue with the Georgian government.

Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that Lavrov would attend on Tuesday the opening ceremony of the Russian embassy’s new compound in Abkhazia during his two-day working visit.

"Lavrov’s visit to Sukhum and his talks with the Abkhazian leaders are expected to give a fresh impetus to Russian-Abkhazian relations and to strengthen their foreign policy cooperation," it added.

Tbilisi fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008 over Georgia’s breakaway regions of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Georgia lost its control of both areas. Russia later recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

* Diyar Guldogan contributed to this story from Ankara.