Lithuania condemns Russia-Abkhazia treaty as an attempt at annexation

Lithuania deeply condemns the deal as Russia is continuing efforts to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty and independence. The Baltic state expressed its firm support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

The de-facto president of breakaway Abkhazia Raul Khajimba and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the controversial ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ deal in Sochi on November 24.

At the United Nations (UN) Security Council December wrap-up session Lithuania highlighted that a similar scenario will be played out in the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

The so-called treaty on alliance and strategic partnership signed recently between Russia and the region of Abkhazia undermines all efforts to find a solution to the conflict based on the principle of Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and constitutes a step towards the annexation of Abkhazia by Russia. There are very real fears that a similar scenario will be played out in the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, the statement said.

Lithuanian diplomat Raimonda Murmokaite serving as Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations since 2012 expressed her position on the tweeter account.

@LithuaniaUNNY#UNSC: so-called treaty on alliance, strategic partnership between Russia and Abkhazia undermines efforts to find solution1/2

— Raimonda Murmokaite (@PRLTUN) December 22, 2014

Therefore, Russian news agency Itar Tass revealed information that Abkhazian Parliament ratified so-called treaty with Russia yesterday, December 22.  The deal will come into force on January 1, 2015.

Meanwhile, Russian President’s aide Vladislav Surkov who is on a working visit to Tskhinvali in the interview to the Russian news agency Itar Tass confirmed that the work on a new treaty on allied relations and integration between Russia and so-called South Ossetia will be over by late January 2015.