Russia has released two Georgian nationals arrested in 2008 and jailed for espionage, a Georgian official said Wednesday, Feb 5, according to RIA Novosti.

The move by Russia was the result of mutual negotiations, Zurab Abashidze, a special envoy of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, said during a briefing.

Russian law enforcement authorities did not immediately comment on the matter.

The unidentified Georgians were arrested after Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August 2008. The two countries severed diplomatic ties after the military conflict, and Moscow recognized the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Georgia's government, elected in October 2012, has said normalizing ties with Russia is among its top priorities. Tensions began to thaw last year after Russia lifted its import ban on Georgian wine and mineral water.