There are plans to open a Georgian-Russian University in Tbilisi. Dimitri Lortkipanidze, head of the Yevgeny Primakov Center in Georgia, told the pro-Russian publication Georgia and the World about this.
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“The matter of establishing a Georgian-Russian university is being actively discussed. At this stage, we are looking for a suitable location for this educational institution. Studying at the university will be free - the Russian Federation will cover the financing costs. It will be a unique university fully staffed by the Russian side.
I think that by the end of September, we will have a clearer picture and will know more details about this university,” says Dimitri Lortkipanidze.
On July 4-7, Georgian-Russian Dialogue 2023 was held in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, organized by the Gorchakov Foundation, in which Georgian professors and local government representatives also took part. According to Dimitri Lortkipanidze, the Georgian side was represented at the forum by professors Temur Maisuradze, Gocha Tsofurashvili, Tamar Kiknadze, as well as political analyst Giorgi Mdivani, historian Giorgi Ukhurgunashvili and candidate of political sciences Ana Khotivrishvili.
As Lortkipanidze says, such matters as the simplification of doing business in Russia for Georgian citizens, the launch of direct flights between Tbilisi and Saint Petersburg, and the reduction of air ticket prices through state subsidy were also discussed at the forum. In addition, according to Dimitri Lortkipanidze, they “managed” to talk about the problems of the deported citizens of Georgia who will be granted amnesty and will no longer be restricted from entering Russia.
The pro-Russian politician points out that Georgia receives great economic benefits from relations with Russia, especially in the recent period, and the time has come for the country's leadership to start relations with the Russian authorities in some form:
“The time has come when we should all address the countries’ leadership and explain that yes, we are doing everything we can, but now it is necessary and important to take active initiative and the government of Georgia, elected by our people and acting out of state interests, should start talking with the leading officials of the Russian Federation.
... Two conferences are scheduled to be held in Russia in July, where the issue of air ticket subsidies will be decided. We are planning another visit to Russia in September and are waiting for new interesting initiatives from the Russian side.
The process of resuscitation of relations is underway and direct communication is very important. I notice that many Russian citizens have a great desire to move their business to Georgia. On the other hand, there are many Georgians who want to start their own business in Russia.”
As Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia because of the war in Ukraine, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, restored direct air traffic with Georgia. In addition, the visa requirements for Georgian citizens, in effect since 2000, were stripped. There are already talks in Moscow that the next step will be the restoration of diplomatic relations.
