MOSCOW, June 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has no plans to hold dialogue with Georgia's current regime, but would be ready to resume talks with a new leadership after elections, the Russian president said.
"In our view this is a political regime that has committed a crime, and we have nothing in common with it," Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
Medvedev said, however, that Russia "will be ready to resume talks" if the Georgian people elect a new leadership capable of maintaining friendly dialogue with Moscow and the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after last August's five-day war with Georgia, which launched a military offensive on South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
Medvedev earlier said that the Russian move was "the only way to protect people's lives."
Speaking on Western criticism of Russia's actions, the president said: "We took the decision ourselves, without counting on any support on this matter, as this was our humanitarian - and if you like simple moral - duty."
Medvedev blamed the events in South Ossetia on the "irresponsible and criminal policies" of the Georgian leadership, and said Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the republics was "irreversible".
Russia signed friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia last November, and the sides have granted each other the right to set up military bases in their respective territories.
"Today we are engaged in rendering assistance to these new states, economic, humanitarian, military and technical; and we will continue doing this, irrespective of whether somebody likes it or not," Medvedev said.
The Russian president said Russia was ready to discuss with partners all issues relating to security in the Caucasus, as well as humanitarian and economic issues.
