Foreign Minister Beruachashvili: “Russia must pay for its actions in Ukraine and Georgia”

Russia must take responsibility for its damaging actions in Georgia and Ukraine, believes Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruachashvili.

Speaking at the TO BE SECURE (2BS) international security forum in Montenegro, Minister Beruachashvili stressed Russia’s aggressive foreign policy was unacceptable and countries who chose to pursue Euro-Atlantic integration should not face Russian pressure for this decision.

"Russia must pay for its actions in Georgia and Ukraine. The West should have a strong, permanent position to support the countries which have already made their choice and are undergoing pressure because of it,” said Beruchashvli.

Within the conference the Georgian official took part in discussions about the Ukraine crisis alongside Foreign Ministry officials from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Romania and experts from several international analytical organisations. There Beruchashvli stressed the importance of the West’s united and strong position in terms of solving problems in Ukraine and the wider region in general.

Meanwhile, while discussing Russia’s aggressive policy, participants were reminded of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. Beruchashvli noted the current Ukraine crisis was a continuation of the outcomes of this war, since the international community did not react adequately to Moscow’s aggression in 2008.

She stressed the so-called treaties recently signed between Russia and Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions were further examples of Russia’s ongoing annexation policy.

"The ongoing processes in Ukraine represent a hybrid war and a great challenge for European security architecture that is significant for the countries having European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” she said.

"I would like to remind you that Ukraine is not the only case. As far back as the 1990s Russia did everything to launch ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. There was a large-scale military confrontation between Georgia and Russia in 2008, resulting in the occupation of 20 percent of our territory.

"Regrettably, the international community did not assess the threat adequately at the time and that’s why today we have the so-called agreements signed by Russia with Georgia’s occupied regions. It represents a direct annexation of Georgia’s sovereign territories,” Beruchashvili said.

Furthermore, Russia was "punishing” the countries who focused on free choice in their external policies.

"Georgian and Ukrainian people have made their choice based on international law and values. These choices are not made against someone and nobody has a right to veto them. This is the only possibility to expand democratic and peaceful space in the region. For this reason, the open-door policy is of particular importance and each country, which is able, wishes and exerts every effort to achieve this goal should be given an opportunity to make their choice,” the Minister said.

This year’s 2BS Forum was organised by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro and was opened by the country’s Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic.