EU condemns Putin’s visit to breakaway Abkhazia

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 Delegation released the statement condemning Vladimir Putin’s move today.

"The visit of the President of the Russian Federation to Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia on the day of the anniversary of the August 2008 war, like similar visits before it, infringes upon the principle of Georgia's territorial integrity and risks jeopardising international efforts directed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict”, the statement read.

It added that the Delegation recalls the firm support of the European Union for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Putin visited Abkhazia to meet with de-facto leader Raul Khajimba yesterday. Yesterday also marked the ninth anniversary of one of the most tragic days in Georgia’s recent history – the beginning of the Russian Georgia war in August of 2008.

The war lasted five days and killed 228 Georgian civilians, 170 soldiers and 14 police officers. It also displaced 192,000 people in Georgia. Many were able to return to their homes after the war but more than 20,000 people still remain displaced.

Earlier today, NATO also criticised Putin for his visit to the occupied region.