New Russian Ambassador to Georgia

Georgian-born Vladimir Chkhikvishvili will be the next Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia. The Georgian side officially confirmed to Moscow its consent to this appointment, Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Gudev, completing his diplomatic mission in Georgia in November, told journalists today.

Tbilisi hopes that the appointment of the new Russian ambassador will help improve Russian-Georgian relations, said Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze.

According to Vladimir Gudev, the Georgian origin of the future Russian ambassador "should, undoubtedly, benefit bilateral relations." Vladimir Chkhikvishvili was born and finished secondary school in Georgia. After that, he continued his education in Russia and worked at the Russian Foreign Ministry and in Russian diplomatic missions. Chkhikvishvili was recently heading the North American department in the Russian Foreign Ministry.