Konstantin Kochiev, adviser to the so-called President of the occupied Tskhinvali region, stated that they will continue to push for relocating the Geneva international negotiations from Switzerland to another venue, as Switzerland is no longer considered a neutral country.
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"We see this reflected in Switzerland's decision to join the anti-Russian sanctions. Additionally, logistical challenges have become significant. To reach the negotiation site, we are forced to create complex travel routes due to the lack of direct air traffic from Moscow. Naturally, we would prefer a more convenient location for discussions, and this is a shared position among us, the Russian, and Abkhaz representatives.
However, resolving this issue requires consensus, meaning all participants must agree to relocate the negotiations. So far, apart from South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Russia, no one is in favor, but we will continue to raise this matter," stated the adviser to the de facto president.
Konstantin Kochiev noted that several cities could be considered as alternative venues: "These include United Nations hubs, such as Nairobi in Kenya and Astana in Kazakhstan. Minsk would be ideal for us, but the capital of Belarus is not a UN center. Russian colleagues have already conducted consultations with several capitals, and proposals for a new venue for discussing security issues in the Transcaucasus have emerged."
On November 5-6, the 62nd round of international negotiations was held in Geneva, Switzerland, where representatives of Russia and the so-called republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia once again proposed moving the talks to a location "acceptable to all parties" and urged participants to discuss this issue in detail.
"The Geneva format will remain in Geneva. That is all I can say," responded Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to journalists' questions on the matter.
The Geneva International Negotiations format was established after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. The talks are held under the co-chairmanship of the European Union, the United Nations, and the OSCE, with participation from Georgia, the United States, the Russian Federation, as well as representatives from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, occupied by Russia. The next, 63rd round of negotiations is scheduled for March 2025.
