The appointment fills a post vacant since December 2025. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says the additional channel is intended to support humanitarian ties, trade and peaceful conflict resolution.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze appointed First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili as his special representative for relations with Russia on 21 October 2026. The appointment fills a vacancy dating to December 2025 and restores an additional channel for managing relations, rather than diplomatic relations themselves.
Kobakhidze said the government wanted the envoy to work alongside the Georgian Interests Section at the Swiss embassy in Moscow. He described the aims as resolving the conflict peacefully, maintaining humanitarian ties and developing trade and economic relations. He denied that the appointment marked a new phase in relations with Russia.
The special representative post was established on 1 November 2012, shortly after Georgian Dream came to power. Diplomat Zurab Abashidze held regular meetings with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, creating what became known as the Abashidze–Karasin format. Those talks helped restore exports of Georgian wine, mineral water, fruit and vegetables to Russia in 2013.
Giorgi Kajaya replaced Abashidze in March 2024. The government administration told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Kajaya left the post on 1 December 2025.
Russia remains an important market: it accounted for about 62.5% of the value of Georgia’s wine exports from January to August 2026, JAMnews reported. On 9 October, Russia suspended imports of products from seven Georgian companies. Kobakhidze said addressing those restrictions was a priority but denied that they prompted the appointment.
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Former president and United National Movement founder Mikheil Saakashvili alleged on social media that the government was preparing to restore diplomatic relations rapidly without de-occupation. He characterised that prospect as capitulation. His allegation contrasts with Kobakhidze’s statement that Georgia’s position on restoring diplomatic relations had not changed.
Asked about restoring diplomatic relations, Kobakhidze said an obstacle remained and that neither the situation nor Georgia’s position had changed. He also addressed Russia’s demand for guarantees that Georgia would not use force against Sukhumi and Tskhinvali, the capitals of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia could not sign an agreement with them, he said, because it could not recognise the territories as independent states in any form.
Zurabashvili will carry out the envoy’s duties while retaining his post as first deputy foreign minister, which he has held since July 2025.
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