"It's a lie, when they say that Russia means nothing for Georgia," Shevardnadze said in an interview with Asaval-Dasavali newspaper, reported by Russian newspaper Vzglyad.
He noted that relations between Moscow and Tbilisi were unlikely to recover in the next couple of years, however.
Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia in August 2008 in the wake of the five-day Russo-Georgia war.
Earlier, Eduard Shevardnadze said that current Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili should "try all ways" to start dialogue between Moscow and Tbilisi. "They cannot return Abkhazia and South Ossetia" without such efforts on the part of the Georgian president, he said, referring to the two breakaway Georgian regions which have a substantial Russian troop presence.
Shevardnadze was convinced that the spiritual leaders of the two countries could play a major role in the negotiating process: "In these conditions, the recent meeting in Kiev of the patriarchs of Russia and Georgia was a ray of light."
Shevardnadze also said that relations with Russia at the highest level were very important for Georgia.
He said that it would be to Georgia's advantage if Vladimir Putin once again became Russian president.
"Remember, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev has refused to negotiate with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Considering that Putin has received Georgia's opposition leaders, I don't rule out the possibility that he will hold talks with Saakashvili."
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