Former Prime Minister of Georgia, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili announced his intentions to improve relations with Russia. This is stated in the billionaire’s open letter published on the website of his TV show “Society 2030,” which airs on the Georgian TV channel GDS.

“We will do everything possible to normalize relations with Russia without compromising the interests of Georgia, deepening ties with important partners and friends - Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia,” the billionaire’s letter says. Georgia is also beginning “interesting cooperation” with Iran, he said. Ivanishvili also noted that Georgia’s pro-Western course does not indicate its disrespect or that it does not take into account the interests of neighboring countries.

Ivanishvili said that Georgia is taking part in the Silk Road projects, and a few days earlier a contract was signed according to which a railway between Germany and China would be built through Georgian territory. “All this strengthens the geopolitical and economic function of Georgia,” Ivanishvili emphasized.

Bidzina Ivanishvili served as Prime Minister of Georgia from October 25, 2012 to November 20, 2013. According to the Forbes rating, his fortune is $4.8 billion. The magazine named him the richest businessman in Georgia.

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia were interrupted in 2008, after a military conflict occurred between Georgia and South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia, after which Tbilisi lost control over the South Ossetian and Abkhazian territories, and Moscow, in turn, recognized both republics.

In 2012, Russia invited Georgia to restore diplomatic relations . “The Russian side has always advocated the preservation and strengthening of humanitarian communication between our peoples, the maximum facilitation of contacts between people,” emphasized then the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Lukashevich.

Former Prime Minister of Georgia promised to improve relations with Russia