Putin visits breakaway Georgian region, Tbilisi says this “blatantly infringes” international law
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Abkhazia – one of the two Russian occupied regions of Georgia, Russian media reports.
The reports said that Putin is scheduled to meet with the de-facto leader of Abkhazia in the Abkhazian town of Bichvinta later today.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned Putin’s actions in a statement released this evening.
"The "visit” by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in the occupied Abkhazia region on the day of Russia’s large-scale military invasion in Georgia in 2008 represents a continuation of Moscow deliberate policy against Georgia,” the statement read.
It added that "such cynical action” at the 9th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war serves to legitimize the forceful change of borders of the sovereign state through military aggression, ethnic cleansing and occupation.
"By this step, the Kremlin tries in vain to support and legitimise its occupation regimes,” it added.
The Foreign Ministry condemned the "visit” and said that it "blatantly infringes the fundamental norms and principles of international law”.
"[The] Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls upon the Russian Federation to cease its provocative actions against the Georgian statehood and respect the territorial integrity the sovereign state”, the statement added.
The Ministry appealed also to the international community to duly assess Moscow’s aggressive steps and take effective measures to ensure that Russia fulfills its international obligations, including the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.
A large group of Georgian citizens have formed a human chain to protest Russian occupation of Georgian territories. The protest took place near the occupation line.
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the August 8 Russian invasion of Georgia and the country’s government and citizens are remembering those who lost their lives to defend their homeland.
Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the most tragic day in Georgia’s recent history – the beginning of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia on August 8 in 2008.
Tbilisi calls for world unity in response to crisis
When the clock strikes midnight tonight, Georgia will mark the eighth anniversary of Russia’s aggression and occupation of Georgian territory, as a sovereign, independent state.
NATO has rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin for visiting the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia on the ninth anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Georgia has denounced the visit of the Russian President to the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia.
The United States (US) is urging the Russian Federation to respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also calls on Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions.
A Georgian citizen illegally detained by Russian-controlled guards has been released today.