Georgia (country)–Russia relations

Judges at the International Criminal Court Jan. 27 gave its prosecutor a green light to launch a new inquiry into allegations of war crimes during a brief but bloody 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.

A militarily strong ally of Serbia will deter any potential aggressor, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin had told Sputnik.

The historic Georgian Osvank Church in the Turkish province of Erzurum needs urgent restoration but Turkey cannot begin the work as Georgian officials have not met reciprocity principlesThe Osvank Church, which was built nearly 1,000 years ago in the eastern province of Erzurum, is ready for restoration but still waiting for steps to be taken by Georgian officials before work can begin. 

NATO continues to create threats to the national security of Russia, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website.

In a press release entitled, "Major foreign policy events of 2015," the ministry noted that the country was forced to take measures to counter the threats.

Russians opened the black box from the Russian Su-24 bomber’s black boxes in a live telecast. The box belonged to the jet that was bombed by Turkey for reportedly entering its air space.

The first examination found that chips removed from the black box are slightly damaged and will need to be x-rayed in the laboratory, said the Russian deputy head of Aerospace Forces at a briefing.

Turkish foreign ministry has warned its citizens aiming at traveling to Russia over the visa regime Russia will start imposing on Turkish citizens as of Jan. 1, 2016, after relations between the two countries have been tense due to a jet crisis.

Modern Europe cannot afford conflicts in a situation of radical interdependence, Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said in Belgrade on Thursday.

"We are heavily influenced by the crisis that surrounds us," he told the OSCE Ministerial Council.

Ivica Dacic late on Wednesday met with Russia's Sergei Lavrov, saying it was "regrettable there was no unity for now in the fight against terrorism."

The Serbian foreign minister and the OSCE chairperson-in-office also condemned Turkey's recent shooting down of a Russian bomber that was flying an anti-terrorist mission.

Aleksandr Chepurin hopes the OSCE will give a principled assessment that Ankara committed a de facto act of aggression when it shot down a Russian military jet.

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili spoke harshly for the British Independent daily about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The current governor of the region of Odessa in Ukraine stressed that the Russian leader "plans to continue invasions of countries in Russia's vicinity."