Azernews.Az

TBILISI – The return of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the presidency would end any possibility of establishing a new dialog between Georgia and Russia, Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze told press conference in Tbilisi Monday.

Kalandadze said Georgia is ready to begin a dialog with Russia but this remains impossible while Russia continues its occupation of Georgian territories.

"The saddest thing is that the current Russian leadership refuses to hold dialog with the legitimately elected Georgian government. We take into account that Russia is our neighbor, but we also know the fact that the current Russian leadership will not speak with any democratically elected Georgian government which will protect the sovereignty of the country," Kalandadze said.

Russian presidential elections are scheduled for 2012. The former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is widely expected to return to the presidency.

Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia and later Russian troops occupied the city and drove the Georgian military back to Georgia. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26 and established diplomatic relations with them on Sept. 9, 2008.