Speaking to the press just days before the two-year anniversary of the South Ossetia War, Medvedev blamed the unimproved relations between the two countries on Georgia’s leadership. Russia’s news agency reports:

“Russia is not guilty of that diplomatic relations with Georgia have been wrecked. The leadership of Georgia and President (Mikhail) Saakashvili is responsible for what has happened, including for destroying political relations,” Medvedev told journalists after the talks with South African President Jacob Zuma.

“Normal relations cannot be with Georgia under the present rule,” the Russian leader said.

“But this does not mean that relations cannot be restored when another leader will take the helm of Georgia,” he said.