http://www.eda.admin.ch/tbilisi

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Switzerland recognized Georgia as an independent state on 23 December 1991. In 1996, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) opened a cooperation office in Tbilisi. In 1997, the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the international organizations in Geneva was also acknowledged as Georgia’s Embassy in Switzerland.

Switzerland strengthened its relations with Georgia with the opening of an Embassy in Tbilisi in June 2001. Political dialogue between Switzerland and Georgia has been conducted on a regular basis since 2004.

On 8 August 2008, an armed conflict broke out between Georgia, on the one side, and the Russian Federation, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, on the other. When the Russian Federation decided on 26 August 2008 to recognize the secessionist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent States, Georgia retaliated by immediately breaking off diplomatic relations. For this reason, in early 2009, upon the request of both States, Switzerland took over the representation of the diplomatic and consular interests of the Russian Federation in Tbilisi, and, conversely, those of Georgia in Moscow.

Switzerland is present in Georgia through the conduct of various humanitarian aid projects and through technical cooperation. Further to the outbreak of the August 2008 conflict, Switzerland participated in the international humanitarian relief effort in the crisis region.