PACE co-rapporteurs: De facto Tskhinvali-Moscow deal is “creeping annexation”

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is condemning the integration deal between occupied Tskhinvali and Moscow, and believes the deal promotes "creeping annexation” of Georgian territory.

PACE co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Georgia Michael Aastrup Jensen (Denmark) and Boriss Cilevics (Latvia) today condemned the signing of the "Alliance and Integration” treaty between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

"As was the case for a similar treaty between Russia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, this agreement violates international law and is another example of the creeping annexation of the Georgian region of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation. Instead of building bridges between people, it increases divisions. This can only be condemned,” said the PACE officials.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and de facto leader of Georgia’s Tskhinvali region Leonid Tibilov signed the so-called treaty in Moscow on March 18.

The agreement envisaged the forming of a unified region of defence and security, freedom of movement between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s breakaway region, and the integration of the customs bodies and social issues.

This came after November 2014’s signing of a similar agreement between Russia and Abkhazia, Georgia’s other breakaway region.

The global community has openly stated they do not recognise the so-called treaties and blamed Russia for violating international law.

Russia continues to occupy the two Georgian regions, which make up 20 percent of the country’s whole territory.

Meanwhile PACE is an international organisation within the Council of Europe dedicated to upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law.