PM Bakhtadze: Occupation in Georgia ‘most harmful challenge’
Russia recognised the independence of two Georgian regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said the Russian occupation is “the most harmful challenge” for Georgia, therefore, this issue should unite every Georgian citizen, despite their political preferences.
Mamuka Bakhtadze responded to journalists’ questions in the Georgian Black Seaside town of Batumi on August 21. He said fighting against the occupation is a difficult process, which needs principled approach and effective strategy, as well as the support from the international community.
We are using all the international platforms in order to protect our national interests”, PM Bakhtadze said, noting that it might take time to stop “borderisation”.
We should have a principled position and unanimity and stand together with the international community”, he added.
Russian occupation forces started to erect artificial barriers in the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality, close to the Russian occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on August 7.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to take “effective measures to stop illegal activities of the occupation forces” in Georgia.
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini also stated yesterday that erection of artificial barriers "must stop immediately".
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said "borderisation" in the vicinity of the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality, close to occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region "must stop immediately".
Yet another Georgian citizen has been detained for illegally crossing the so-called border near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The de facto security council of Tskhinvali region said Tsotne Kublashvili, who is a local of Gori Municipality, was detained on August 20.
“The erection of fences by de-facto authorities of South Ossetia backed by Russian border guards in the vicinity of Gugutiantkari village hinders freedom of movement and will deprive people from the local area from accessing orchards and water resources”, the European Union Delegation to Georgia stated.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) told Agenda.ge that the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have confirmed the detention of eight people on the evening of August 17 and morning of August 18 near the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality via the mission’s hotline.
Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s (OSCE PA) human rights committee condemn the “illegal erection of fences and barriers” in Georgia and call upon “the respective authorities" to remove the fence from the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality.
Fifteen states have released a joint statement condemning the ‘presidential elections’ Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia region held yesterday. The countries have called on Russia to withdraw its recognition of the ‘independence’ of Russia-occupied Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions of Georgia. Poland was the initiator of the statement the 15 states have released today.