Moscow hopes Georgia's new government will establish relations of friendship with Russia

Moscow hopes Georgia's new legitimate government will do everything to establish relations of friendship with Russia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia is alarmed by the fact that the take-over of power in Georgia was a result of, among other things, a strong pressure from the security bodies, the president said at a meeting with Russian Cabinet members on Monday.

The Russian leader said Eduard Shevardnadze had never been a dictator.

"Those who organise such actions and those who encourage them are responsible to the Georgian people who has for centuries been linked by brotherly ties with Russia," said President Putin.