NATO liaison office condemns military deal between Russia and occupied Tskhinvali

Head of the NATO liaison office in Georgia William Lahue has condemned the integration of troops of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) with the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved of an agreement reached two years ago between Russia and de-facto authorities in Tskhvinali on March 14, which which allows military personnel from Georgia’s breakaway region of Tskhinvali to serve in the Russian army.

The deal was supposed to be concluded by the end of March between the Russian government and de-facto South Ossetian officials.

Lahue also emphasised that Russia's policy recognising South Ossetia as a state, is illegal.

This policy is not recognised by the international community, the United Nations nor NATO member countries. The agreement is a negative step, which shows that Russia is not interested in the peaceful resolution of the problem”, Lahue said.

Georgian President Margvelashvili believes that the deal will not be recognised as valid on the world stage.

Margvelashvili further thinks that Russia’s steps are in response to a policy of nonrecognition used by Georgia and the rest of the world.

Last year Russia’s parliament ratified an illegal military cooperation agreement with Abkhazia - another Georgian region also occupied by Russia.

Russia recognised Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the other Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent countries after a military armed conflict with Georgia in 2008.

As of today, only four countries recognise Georgia’s breakaway regions as independent republics; these are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.