Russia’s former President and current Deputy Secretary of the country’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, on Wednesday claimed Moscow would join Georgia’s currently occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions if the West “continues its efforts” to “escalate situation” by “dragging Georgia” into Moscow’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, encouraged “Russophobic” attitudes among Georgians, and reiterated its pledge on Tbilisi’s joining NATO. 

In his comments for Argument in Fact media Medvedev, who in August 2008 signed a document on recognition of the Georgian regions as independent republics, claimed the West did not "learn any lessons” even after the 2008 conflict and was now waging a “bloody war” against Mocow with the hands of Kyiv. 

He noted "there is no need to repeat the developments of 2008" and the Kremlin was ready to “solve the problems at the negotiation table, in line with the UN Charter”, but highlighted if Moscow’s "concerns" acquired real contours, "we will not hesitate".

"The idea of joining Russia is still popular in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and it is quite possible to realize it, if there are valid reasons for this," Medvedev said, adding "for the West, such a development will be another shameful fiasco and another symbol of the catastrophic loss of influence."

The Georgian authorities have refused to impose individual sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine last year, and also accepted the Kremlin’s decision to lift travel and visa restrictions with Tbilisi earlier this year, claiming any opposing step would add to security challenges and damage the state economy. 

Like the Kremlin, the Georgian officials have many times accused Kyiv and the West of taking actions to “drag” Georgia into the conflict, amid the allegations by the domestic opposition about the “pro-Russian” stance of the Georgian Dream Government.