TBILISI, February 5 (RAPSI) - A special envoy of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Abashidze said during a briefing on Wednesday that Russia has released two Georgian nationals accused of espionage in 2008.

Abashidze attributed Russia’s actions to a result of mutual negotiations. There were no official comment on the matter as of yet from the Russian law enforcement authorities.

Russia and Georgia severed diplomatic ties after Moscow recognized de-facto independent Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states following a brief military conflict in August 2008.

Georgia’s new leadership said normalizing ties with Russia was among its top priorities. Tensions started to thaw earlier this year after Russia lifted its import ban on Georgian wine and mineral water.