Embassy of Russia, Tbilisi Georgia. Embassy of Russia, Tbilisi The Embassy of Russia in Tbilisi was the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Georgia. The chancery is located at 51 Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi. On August 29, 2008, Georgia ordered the Russian ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko and all other Russian diplomats to leave the country and close the embassy and severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Russia and Georgia had previously fought a five-day war over two Georgian breakaway regions (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) declaring independence. The Russian Federation is represented through the Russian Federation Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland
Russia–South Ossetia relations recognition was condemned by the European Union, United States, NATO, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, amongst others, with some calling for Russia to rescind its recognition. Many high level Russian politicians including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov, Chairman of the State Duma Boris Gryzlov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin and Permanent Representative of Russia to NATO Dmitry Rogozin, rejected the criticism, and have stated that Russian recognition of South Ossetia is irreversible. In an interview to Vesti in August