23:30, 17 February 2010

Medvedev labels his Georgian counterpart as "persona non grata" in Russia

Today in Kremlin, President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev has named President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili a persona non grata for the Russian Federation, having added that he "will never have any business" with the incumbent head of Georgia.

Mr Medvedev made this statement after signing the Russian-Abkhazian agreement on setting up a Russian base in this republic.

"Sooner or later we'll get back to normal, full-fledged relations with Georgia. There's no other way out; however, personally I will have no business with the incumbent President of Georgia. He is a persona non grata for the Russian Federation," said Dmitri Medvedev as quoted by the "Interfax".

He has added that "Russians have ever had and will have most friendly feelings to Georgians, despite the conflict in August 2008." However, President Medvedev has emphasized that "those guilty of the five-day war are known to everybody."