Tbilisi condemns Russia’s military exercises in occupied Tskhinvali

Tbilisi has expressed its "extreme concern” and condemned Russia’s military exercises launched on Wednesday in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

More than 1,500 troops took part in large-scale military exercises in breakaway Tskhinvali, where Russia used unmanned drones: Zastava, Granat, Orlan and Leer for surveillance or adjustment of fire, also weapons such as T-72BM tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and Akatsiya and Gvozdika howitzer artillery pieces.

"This act of the Russian Federation represents an infringement of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a gross violation of the Georgian Constitution, norms and principles of international law, international commitments undertaken by Russia including under the Ceasefire Agreement of 12 August 2008, and poses a threat to peace and security in the region,” Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses its extreme concern and demands the Russian Federation to comply with its commitments, withdraw its troops from the territory of Georgia and de-occupy the Georgian regions.”

Tbilisi called upon the international community to "duly assess this aggressive action of Russia, adequately react to its yet another destructive move and prevent the activities aimed at the infringement of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.