Georgian MFA: Russia doubled its illegal activities in Georgia amid pandemic
Georgian Foreign Ministry says that Russia openly attacks the Georgian health policy and the country’s security. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Foreign Ministry says that Russia has been particularly active in its creeping annexation of more Georgian territories over the past two months and its (Russia’s) fight against the US-built Lugar Centre in Tbilisi has become intense.
The ministry condemned the recent erection of illegal barriers in the village of Mereti in the Gori municipality of Georgia and said that barbed-wire fences, illegal barriers and so-called anti-fire ploughs have been made at both occupied regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali during the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the past week alone, illegal ‘borderisation’ took place near the villages of Tseronisi and Knolevi of Kareli municipality, as well as at the villages of Takhtrisdziri, Dvani, Koda, Tchvrinisi and Atotsi. Near the village of Pakhulani and Muzhava of Tsalenjikha municipality of western Georgia. Near the villages of Khurcha and Ganmukhiri near the occupied Abkhazia,” the ministry said.
The ministry stated that Russia continues its ‘disinformation campaign’ against the Lugar Centre in Tbilisi, which is under the full control of Georgia’s National Disease Control Centre.
De facto Tskhinvali has made comic accusations that Tbilisi is artificially spreading the coronavirus in the region,” said the ministry.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has urged the international community to have a due reaction to Russia's actions in Georgia. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
The ministry stated that Russia ‘deliberately activated’ hybrid war against Georgia and ‘trough telling the tales’ they are trying to attack the Georgian National Disease Control Centre and its Lugar Lab ‘which has played a crucial role in Georgia’s very effective fight against the coronavirus.’
Russian actions aim to create distrust to the central Georgian government in the occupied regions and stir tension on the ground. The disinformation campaign by Russia is an open attack on Georgian health policy and state security,” said the ministry.
The ministry called on Russia to stick to its obligations and withdraw its troops from Georgia.
The ministry also urged the international community to give a due assessment to the Russian actions in Georgia and ‘take genuine steps to make Russia suspend its frequent attacks against Georgia.’
The de facto government of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has accused Tbilisi and the European Union Monitoring Mission of ‘secretly collecting biological materials of the South Ossetian (Tskhinvali) people, which serves the goal of continuing our genocide.’
Russian-controlled occupation forces have erected “illegal installations” at the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on Tbilisi-administered territory, the Georgian State Security Service has reported earlier today.
Erik Hoeg, a senior Danish diplomat who has served as Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia since December 2017, has ended his tenure. Prior to this, he was serving as Deputy Head of the EUMM Georgia since April 2015 and Acting Head of Mission since September 2017.
EUMM head to Georgia Erik Hoeg says that the 7th special meeting in Ergneti, which was dedicated to easing tension at the villages of Tsnelisi and Chorchana, has ended without substantial progress.The Georgian State Security Service has reported that the Russian-controlled de facto government of Tskhinvali still continues to demand the removal of an ordinary police post from the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, which is located on the Tbilisi-controlled territory.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili stated that the Georgian government has not been able to give support to the residents of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The US embassy to Georgia has stated that as the world marks the anniversary of Georgian independence and celebrates Georgia’s success in combating COVID-19, the United States protests the ongoing, provocative ‘borderisation’ by Russian-led security forces along the occupation line of the Russian-occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
The US Department of State has condemned Russia's redoubled efforts of ‘borderisation’ amid pandemic.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region is studying a site near the village of Tsnelisi ‘where a Georgian drone violated a border on June 2 – 3,’ as the drone ‘could have been used to spread the coronavirus to the region.’
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has thanked Georgia for helping three Russian seamen in Nigeria return home on a repatriation flight, as well as for assistance in the repatriation of Russian nationals from Georgia.
Russia says it is concerned by the ‘more frequent and provocative statements and actions of Georgia’ towards currently occupied Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions of Georgia, and accuses the US Department of State and the US Embassy in Georgia of ‘provocative activities.’
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia have spoken on the phone and discussed a range of issues, including the October parliamentary elections, Georgia’s ‘effective response’ to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s redoubled occupation efforts during the pandemic.The phone conversation yesterday was held due to the postponement of the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership charter session due to the pandemic, with the officials expressing hope the session will take place by the end of the year.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have resumed the erection of illegal barriers in the Takhtrisdziri village of Kareli municipality, central Georgia, near the currently occupied Tskhinvali region of Georgia.
Russian-controlled occupation forces continue to erect new iron poles and fences near the Nikozi village of central Georgia, Gori municipality, about 15 metres from the occupation line.
It is universally known that in 2008,Russia carried out open, large-scale military aggression against Georgia, containing which became possible as a result of the unwavering support of the international community, primarily the United States and the European Union.Here, at the UN headquarters, everyone is well aware that 20 percent of Georgia's integral territories—Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region—are occupied by Russia,” Gakharia said.
The United States (US) Mission to OSCE has issued an official statement in which its team says that they would welcome the reestablishment of an OSCE field presence in Georgia ‘capable of operating unhindered across the administrative boundary lines’.