The Caucasus state severed diplomatic ties with Russia, which recognized breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia after a five-day war with Georgia that had attacked Ossetia to return it to central control.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, exchanged the necessary diplomatic papers at a ceremony in Moscow.
"The opening of the Russian interest section [in the Swiss Embassy in Georgia] will help improve the situation and maintain ties between the Russian and Georgian people," Lavrov said.
Calmy-Rey said her country could also represent Tbilisi in Moscow. The minister said Tbilisi asked Switzerland on Thursday if the Swiss Embassy in Moscow could represent Georgia, provided Russia had no objections.
Lavrov responded positively to the suggestion.
Switzerland, as a neutral state, has for years represented the interests of a number of countries. It currently represents Cuba's and Iran's interests in the United States, U.S. interests in Cuba, and Iran's in Egypt.
Speaking at a joint news conference after the ceremony, Lavrov said Russia and Switzerland were finalizing a visa facilitation treaty and a readmission agreement.
Calmy-Rey also said that Schengen visas would be available in the Swiss Embassy in Moscow from Monday, as the country had joined the Schengen visa agreement. Switzerland scrapped checks at land border crossings with the EU on Friday, and the change is to be extended to airports on March 29 next year.
Lavrov told the news conference he had accepted Calmy-Rey's invitation to visit Switzerland, but did not say when the visit might take place.
