The issue of Vazha Gaprindashvili is a humanitarian issue and we think that everybody should meet New Year together with their families, - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said after the 50^th round of Geneva talks.

“We listened to the views of both parties. We hope that Gaprindashvili will return to his beloved ones in the near future. It is in everyone's interest that this issue be removed from the agenda. Do not ask me how he will be released. As you know, he is not in the Kremlin," Rudenko told Georgian journalists.

He said he was not going to engage in the discussion on the issue of occupation, as it had been closed for Russia since 2008.

"As for Gaprindashvili's case, it is a humanitarian issue and we think that everybody should meet New Year together with their families," Rudenko said and added that he did not want to comment on "why Gaprindashvili got there."