Georgia concerned over Russian Deputy Foreign Minister’s interview about Georgia

The Russian Federation continues its military occupation and illegal militarisation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), thus destabilising the situation in the entire region and violating the fundamental rights of the local population, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua said.

Dondua made the statement in response to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin’s recent interview with Kommersant newspaper where he said Russia will not withdraw its recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Calling Karasin’s comments "concerning”, Dondua said such an attitude once again emphasises how Russia neglects Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and avoids its fulfillment of the Russia-Georgia Ceasefire Agreement signed on August 12, 2008.

The Georgian Government makes constructive steps for the peaceful regulation of the conflict in the frames of the Geneva International Discussions as well as the bilateral informal dialogue [with Russia]”, Dondua said.

Georgian-Russian relations can be normalised through Russia’s relevant constructive policy respecting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, he further noted.

In the interview Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin said Russia’s decision about the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states is final and will not be changed.

Russia recognised Abkhazia and the other Georgian breakaway region of Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) 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.