Putin blames Georgia for problems in relations

Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin, who won Sunday’s vote by a landslide on Wednesday, blamed Georgia’s leadership for problems in bilateral relations. “This is the result of the current Georgian leadership’s actions,” Putin told journalists who asked him about the outlook for relations between Moscow and Tbilisi when he is sworn in. “We have special relations with the Georgian people. I hope a solution will be found,” he said. Putin said “the situation would be different now” if Georgia had behaved in a different way in its conflict with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He said he had repeatedly warned President Mikheil Saakashvili prior to the escalation of the conflict that bloodshed must be avoided. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, following a five-day war with Georgia. The war began when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, where most residents are Russian passport holders. Russia's decision has been condemned by many nations. Georgia considers the two regions part of its sovereign territory. Russia's decision has been condemned by many nations. In response, Georgia, which considers the two regions part of its sovereign territory, broke off diplomatic relations with Russia. Saakashvili signed a decree that unilaterally abolished visas for Russians traveling to Georgia in late February. In response, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the Foreign Ministry to start restoring diplomatic relations with Georgia.