Security Service: Presence of Russian forces in Georgia is the main threat to the state
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian State Security Service wrote in its annual report released today that the presence of Russian forces in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions is the "major threat” to the Georgian state.
The ongoing, informal annexation of the Georgian occupied territories by Russia, increasing militarization, deliberate isolation of the occupied territories, illegal detention of Georgian citizens and the ethnic discrimination of Georgians remain key challenges for the Georgian state security,” the report reads.
The report noted that the illegal detention and murder of Archil Tatunashvili once again revealed the "grave situation” in the occupied regions.
Current developments in the occupied regions of Georgia clearly indicate a deliberate, gradual annexation of historic Georgian lands by Russia,” says the report.
The Security Service claims that Russia gradually rejects the so-called sovereignty of the occupied territories and is exercising full control on the so-called state services of the breakaway regions.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent republics in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Only Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru have shared Russia’s position so far, while the rest of the international community recognizes the regions as integral parts of Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister has released a statement condemning the opening of 33 polling stations in the Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) for today’s Russian presidential elections.
The United States (US) condemns the Russian Federation’s ratification of an agreement with the de-facto leaders in Georgia’s breakaway region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) that envisages the creation of joint military troops between Russia and the occupied region.
The de-facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) have announced that the administrative border separating the breakaway area from the rest of Georgia will be closed for two days.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the ratification of an illegal military deal between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) that envisages the creation of joint military troops between Russia and the occupied region.
The head of Georgia’s State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri stated in parliament today that the threat of terrorism remains low in Georgia.
Gomelauri told lawmakers that in 2017 the State Security Service managed to prevent terrorist acts, referring to two recent large-scale anti-terrorism raids in Georgia.
Foreign Minister Janelidze plans to use high level meetings in the US to discuss human rights violations in the Russia-controlled breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.