I am not familiar with the details of it [Abashidze-Karasin conversation], but I can say that I think most Georgians are not interested in moving closer to Russia right now,  US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan stated.

“I am not familiar with the details of it [Abashidze-Karasin conversation] because I’ve been here in Kakheti, but I can say that I think most Georgians are not interested in moving closer to Russia right now; while Russia continues to occupy 20% of your territory, while Russia continues to attack and brutally assault civilians, civilian schools and hospitals and cities in Ukraine, trying to take Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory and identity the way Russia has tried to do in Georgia. This is not the time I think Georgians are looking to move closer to Russia at all,” US Ambassador remarked.

A taped conversation between Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian PM’s special representative for relations with Russia and Grigory Karasin, the head of Russia’s Federation Council Committee, was leaked, according to which, Abashidze and Karasin are discussing the establishment of a transportation corridor on the left side of so-called South Ossetia.