On October 31, the audio recording [recorded in March 2022] appeared on the CyberKmara YouTube channel, where the two top diplomats dealt with normalizing relations in Moscow and Tbilisi. The potential of restoring direct air travel between Russia and Georgia was discussed by Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Russia, and Grigory Karasin, the head of the Russian Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee.

Calls to Abashidze are made shortly after Russia invades Ukraine, and the person identified as Karasin asks for advice. Karasin can be heard stating, "Our people say that maybe we should discuss the ideas coming from the Georgian side about the resumption of air traffic, the ideas about road transport, and so on," and adds that it would be premature to raise and discuss these issues at this time. 

When Karasin asks, "Perhaps I am wrong?" Abashidze responds, "No, no, you are right, absolutely right." Then Karasin adds, "We should hold off until things are clearer and more peaceful, since otherwise, we would bury these good intentions." Abashidze concurs, saying, "No, no. We are walking on the edge here, and we need to wait for the storm to pass."

On the same day, Zurab Abashidze confirmed that such a conversation occurred between him and Karasin in March 2022, adding that there was nothing scandalous in it. "He asked me for my opinion, and I confirmed that it was not convenient to start talking about restoring air traffic between the two countries. This proves that the decision to restore flights with Georgia was made later, independently by the Russian side, which is what we have been saying all along. After this conversation, this issue has not been discussed with Grigory Karasin," Abashidze said.

Moreover, Rati Bregadze, the Minister of Justice of Georgia, noted: "These people used to meet and talk, and there is such a channel of communication. I think there is nothing particularly secret here. What would be the interest of the Russian Federation? I know, and I can tell you from the Georgian point of view, that it will be easier for the citizens of Georgia to travel. I don’t see anything wrong with it."

Tinatin Bokuchava, a member of the United National Movement, stated: "This is also Putin’s style to expose collaborators and traitors, that is, meaning Russia itself expositing the Russian government doing the Russian deed. I do not exclude that Davitashvili [the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development] was in Beijing not only to participate in the multilateral format but that Ivanishvili’s pawn brought treasonous messages to Beijing and held secret negotiations with the country’s occupier and internationally recognized terrorist, Vladimir Putin."

Paata Manjgaladze from the Strategy Aghmashenebeli emphasized: "The Abashidze-Karasin format is useless and is designed to act as a decoy as if Russia has no communication with Georgian Dream except through this format. Of course, this confirms that the communication was also through this channel, but Georgian Dream has a tighter, closer relationship and direct contact with Russia than the Abashidze-Karasin format, and this is evidenced by Partskhaladze’s direct contact with Russia, which is close to the Garibashvili’s and Bidzina Ivanishvili’s families".