Georgia condemns Russia’s “provocative” efforts to restore Abkhazia railway
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Georgia is condemning Russia’s "provocative” efforts to restore an old railway in occupied Georgia, and says the country will not tolerate "repeated aggression” on Georgian soil.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Russia’s attempt to fix and restore the Ochamchire-Enguri railway section in occupied Abkhazia was unlawful and it called on
the international community to react appropriately to Russia’s ongoing provocation in Georgia.
The Russian side claimed 500 soldiers and 50 pieces of machineries and equipment were involved in rehabilitation of the railway that was closed in 1992 during the Abkhazian civil war.
Today Georgia’s MFA emphasized Russia’s actions were "provocative” and Russia had already used the railway for aggressive purposes prior to the Russian-Georgian war in 2008.
Before the war Russia illegally launched the restoration of the railway section and [using the railway] brought its soldiers on to de-facto Abkhazian territory.
Russia successfully used its troops in the course of the August 2008 war,” said the Ministry.
Georgia appealed to Russia to respect international law and meet the Ceasefire Agreement of August 12, 2008, signed by both parties after the war that envisages Russia de-occupying Georgia’s two regions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is calling on the international community to adequately assess Russia’s military trainings on Georgia breakaway territory of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia. More than 2,000 troops are currently participating in military trainings on Georgia’s two occupied territories.
The President of Georgia is appealing to the international community to adequately respond to Russia's military exercises in Georgia's breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), launched two days ago.
If Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region and Venezuela sign a visa free travel agreement, this will be a blatant violation of international law, says official Tbilisi.
Leaders of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region plan to introduce visa regimes for states that refuse to recognise it as an independent state.
De facto authorities in one of Georgia’s two occupied regions has imposed visa regime for countries that refuse to recognise the breakaway territory as an independent state.
Today Georgia is celebrating Abkhaz Language Day – an important day in the country’s annual calendar. Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke of the importance of the day.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said the Abkhazian railway in the Russian-occupied Georgian territory “can be restored only when the country becomes reunited”.