Bolivia–Georgia relations

Bolivia–Georgia relations

Bolivia	Georgia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Georgia, Buenos Aires
Envoy
Ambassador Irakli Kurashvili

The Bolivia–Georgia relations are the diplomatic relations between the Plurinational State of Bolivia, in South America, and Georgia, in Europe.

History

The diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Georgia date back to 20 November 1998, even though the first Bolivian envoy presented his credentials to Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze only in 2002.

Bolivia enjoyed a visa-free regime with Georgia early on, as part of Georgian President Saakashvili's visa liberalization policy. However, in 2014, the Georgian government scrapped the Bolivian visa-free agreement, citing security reasons.

Despite the tensions between Tbilisi and Sucre, several high-level meetings have been held over time. President Saakashvili met with Evo Morales in 2011 in New York City, while Georgian and Bolivian legislators held a working session in March 2018 during the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.

In 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia and Georgia in Sucre, setting up bilateral consultations on economy, agriculture, culture and education.

Bolivia and Abkhazia

The relations between both states have been contentious, especially given the Bolivian government's close ties to Russia. The tension have been emphasized since the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, when Bolivia was one of the few nations to not condemn Russia's invasion during the five-day war. Ever since the conflict, Bolivia has consistently voted with Russia on any votes concerning Georgia at the United Nations, notably against the annual Georgia-sponsored resolution calling for the return of internally displaced persons to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Bolivia was rumored to consider recognizing the independence of Georgia's two separatist republics as early as September 2008, but never moved forward with the act. In 2009, following Venezuela's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stated wanting to lobby Bolivia to follow track and in 2010, an Abkhaz delegation led by Foreign Minister Maxim Gvindzhiya visited Bolivia to try and establish diplomatic relations with Sucre.

See also

• Foreign relations of Bolivia
• Foreign relations of Georgia

Diplomatic Missions

Bolivia has had only one accredited ambassador to Georgia, although the latter was based out of Moscow and covered most of the post-Soviet republics :

• 2002–2004: Dr. Gonzalo de Acha Prado (residence in Moscow)

In 2011, Georgia accredited its Embassy in Argentina to also cover, among others, Bolivia. The heads of the mission have been:

• 2011–2014: Otar Berdzenishvili (residence in Buenos Aires)
• 2014–2017: Gela Sekhniashvili (residence in Buenos Aires)
• 2018–: Irakli Kurashvili (residence in Buenos Aires)