Relations between Georgia and Russia have been strained since the Western-leaning government of President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in the South Caucasus republic in 2003. In March 2006, Russia banned Georgian wines and mineral water, which was a heavy blow to the economy of the small mounainous nation.
"We do realize that we must maintain good relations with Russia, or at least normal relations," Mikheil Saakashvili said during a meeting with Georgian athletes. "We would not want these relations to deteriorate to the point where it would be impossible to restore them."
However, he said that everybody should understand that the Georgian people will never abandon the idea of the country's integrity despite any pressure.
Tbilisi seeks to bring the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia back under its control, and accuses Russia of supporting separatist forces there. The Russian Foreign Ministry said this was the cause of the current crisis in relations with Georgia.
In late September, Georgia briefly detained four Russian officers on espionage charges and also threatened to withdraw its support of Russia's WTO bid. In response, Russia cut off transport and postal links to its neighbor and deported hundreds of Georgian migrants, saying they were in the country illegally.
The Georgian president said he would attend a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Minsk on November 28 and use the opportunity to voice the Georgian position on the current political spat with Russia.
