TBILISI, July 16 (RIA Novosti) -- Georgia's president vehemently criticized Sunday a proposal to hold a referendum on the independence of the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia.

"All the talk that Abkhazia should hold a referendum and possibly secede from Georgia is a provocation that the international community will not take seriously," Mikheil Saakashvili said on television.

But he added that a referendum could be possible after the return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia and with account for the interests of the ethnic groups in the region.

"I am certain that the Group of Eight [industrialized nations] share this viewpoint and will express their support," the president said.

He called the conflicts in Georgia political rather than ethnic and said Tbilisi was not satisfied with the status quo but would not allow anyone to stir up trouble.

Leaders of industrialized nations have gathered in St. Petersburg for Russia's debut summit this weekend.