Tbilisi condemns “illegal” deals between Venezuela, breakaway Abkhazia
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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.
The de facto leaders of Georgia’s Russian-occupied region met with officials from the South American country and discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including possibly establishing visa free travel.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said this bilateral deal was unlawful and unethical.
"In September 2009 following pressure from the Russian side, Venezuela recognised the ‘independence’ of the occupied regions of Georgia, by which it flagrantly violated the fundamental norms of international law, including respect towards Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” read the Ministry’s statement released today.
"Accordingly, any agreement between Caracas and Sokhumi, whether it is opening an ‘Abkhazian Embassy’ in Venezuela, appointing ‘Venezuela’s Ambassador in Abkhazia’, launching ‘visa free travel’ or something else, is illegal from the very beginning and does not bring any legal consequences under international law.”
"It is sad that Venezuela, following Russia’s footsteps, continues flagrant violation of the norms of international law and neglects Georgia’s territorial integrity.”
Several days ago Abkhazia’s de facto Foreign Ministry hosted a delegation from Venezuela where de facto president of breakaway Abkhazia Raul Khajimba met the delegation members. The sides discussed the idea of signing several agreements, including visa free travel and deepening cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture and economy.
Abkhazia is situated in the north-western corner of Georgia. Russia recognised it as an independent state in 2008, immediately after the five-day Russia-Georgia war over Georgia’s other breakaway region, Tskhinvali region (often incorrectly referred to as South Ossetia).
This move of Russia has been assessed numerous times as a "violation of international law” by the global community.
Abkhazia – one of the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia – is now being referred to as the ‘Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia’ instead of ‘Republic of Abkhazia’ on Google Maps after one Georgian internet user challenged the online spelling.
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.
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.
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.
Minister Paata Zakareishvili fronted media today and said one option currently being discussed to settle the conflict with breakaway Abkhazia, in the northwest of Georgia, might entail offering the region a special status within Georgia.
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.
The de facto Prime Minister of Georgia’s western occupied Abkhazia region says the region does not plan on holding a referendum to join Russia.
Late yesterday Russian occupant forces kidnapped two Georgian citizens from a village under Georgia control that’s located near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) separating western de facto Abkhazia region from the rest of Georgia.
Russian-controlled border guards monitoring the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia and one of its occupied regions have detained two Georgian men and accused them of illegally crossing the so-called border.
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.
Georgia shares the position of the international community and says that the country does not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela.
Georgian Foreign Ministry official Vladimir Konstantinidi says that El Salvador has faithfully supported Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty since the establishment of diplomatic relations back in 1999.
Georgia has joined the US and other foreign states which have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. Georgian Foreign Ministry hopes that the political process in Venezuela will continue peacefully and the country’s legitimate government will join the international community.
US National Security Adviser John Bolton phoned Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze late yesterday to thank him for sharing the US position regarding the current tension in Venezuela and for the recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.
Reliable sources say that the interim government of Venezuela under leader Juan Guaido will revoke Venezuela’s recognition of the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) if they manage to stay in power.