Zakharova assessed the prospects for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Georgia

The issue of restoring diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia is not on the agenda yet, the initiative should come from Tbilisi, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

The initiator of the rupture of diplomatic relations with Russia was not the Georgian people, but Mikhail Saakashvili, who at that time was the country's president.

"Accordingly, the initiative to restore diplomatic communication should also come from Georgia. We have repeatedly said that we are open to such an opportunity, but today this issue is not on the agenda," Zakharova said at a briefing on August 20.

According to her, the lack of diplomatic relations with Russia is "part of the tragic legacy of the aforementioned "servant of the people" Saakashvili."

"The decision to break off our relationship was not just a mistake. It was a mistake that is really worse than a crime — a criminal mistake," she said.

"Today, cooperation with Russia brings tangible benefits to Georgia and provides the republic with record rates of economic development," Zakharova said.

As EADaily reported, on August 11, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that until Russia refuses to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia will not restore full-fledged diplomatic relations with it.

"While the so—called recognition by Russia is a fact, diplomatic relations, of course, will not be restored. Our goal in relation to the Russian Federation is a peaceful settlement of the conflict," he said.

Kobakhidze added that this "is one of the foreign policy priorities" of Georgia.

Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Russia on September 2, 2008 due to Moscow's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which followed Georgia's attack on Tskhinvali. This year, on the eve of the outbreak of the conflict on August 8, the political council of the ruling Georgian Dream party admitted that former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was to blame for unleashing the war, who acted obeying instructions from outside.