Russian Press on Saakashvili-Putin Talks

Mutual accusations prevailed during conversations between the presidents of Georgia and Russia, Mikheil Saakashvili and Vladimir Putin, respectively, which took place three times on the sidelines of CIS summit in Minsk, the Russian daily Kommersant reported on November 29, quoting an unnamed source in the Russian delegation.

?During the meeting in the presence of other CIS leaders, Mikheil Saakashvili described sanctions imposed against Georgia as inappropriate measures. In response Vladimir Putin reminded him that the sanctions followed the capture of four Russians, one of whom was beaten up. Mikheil Saakashvili pushed issue of sanctions once again later, but Putin again responded that measures undertaken by Russia were legitimate. Finally, the two Presidents met face-to-face and talked for about five minutes. According to the source, this meeting also failed to yield any results,? Kommersant said.

Georgian media sources reported that a face-to-face meeting between the two Presidents in Minsk lasted for 40 minutes.

The Russian daily Vedomosti said on November 29 that the meeting between Putin and Saakashvili was ?a surprise.?

?A brief conversation between Vladimir Putin and his Georgian counterpart Saakashvili took place anyway. Russian officials said on the eve of the summit that the separate meeting was not planned with Saakashvili. The Kremlin source said that ‘a brief conversation took place,’? Vedomosti said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)