Russia ‘concerned’ by Georgia’s ‘provocative actions at borders’ with occupied Tskhinvali, Abkhazia
Russia has urged Tbilisi ‘to mark borders’ with occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. Photo: EPA.
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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.’
The statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry says that Georgia ‘has made illegal border crossings with the independent states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) more frequent’, urging Tbilisi ‘to suspend the illegal activities.’
The statement comes amid international condemnation of redoubled occupation efforts during the pandemic and recent shooting and detention of a Georgian citizen ‘for illegally crossing the border’’ by Russian-led occupation forces.
Unfortunately, Tbilisi is trying to stage a play and shift responsibility onto others. We urge Tbilisi to suspend provocations and making provocative statements and use all formats of dialogue with Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia to resolve existing problems, including Geneva Discussions, Abashidze-Karasin non-formal negotiation format and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Meetings (IPRM),” Russia says.
US embassy at the end of May, 2020: 'over the past two weeks Russian-led security forces have erected unauthorised fences and reinforced existing illegal ‘borderisation’ efforts near 12 separate Georgian villages.' Photo: US Embassy, Tbilisi.
Russia says that the statements made by the US Department of State and the embassy ‘undermines Washington’s role as an impartial participant in the Geneva Discussions’, and that Tbilisi ‘must launch negotiations in a timely manner’ with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali on ‘the demarcation of the border to prevent illegal border crossings.’
Since August 2019 Tskhinvali has refused to participate in IPRM meetings, protesting the construction of a Georgian police post ‘near its border’, on Tbilisi-administered territory.
Russia recognised the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Since then only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have recognised the regions as independent states.
The rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied by Russia, calling on the country to leave the Georgian territory.
Tbilisi has demanded the resumption of Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meetings amid the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the de facto authorities of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region on July 11.
The US Department of State has condemned Russia's redoubled efforts of ‘borderisation’ amid pandemic.
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.
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 Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has condemned the shooting and illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by Russian-led occupation forces on July 11, stating that Russia ‘systematically violates the international law and is a threat to regional peace and stability.’
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office report for 2019 says that increased Russian interference led to a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation in the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia-Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
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.
The EU delegation to Georgia has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, stating that Russia continues its illegal presence on the Georgian territory and that the EU’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia ‘remains as strong as ever’.“Unfortunately, tensions have remained high over recent months and the Russian military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia continues in violation of international law and commitments undertaken under the 12 August 2008 agreement,” said the statement released by the EU delegation to Georgia earlier today.
The US Embassy to Georgia has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, stating that ‘August 7 is a somber reminder of the thousands who have suffered and continue to suffer in the wake of Russia’s invasion.’
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Soreide has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, calling on Russia to comply with the 2008 ceasefire agreement and pull its forces out 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.
Georgian PM’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze, who held an online meeting with former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin yesterday, said unlike the Russian FM’s statement, the anti-Russia protests of 2019 were not mentioned during their conversation.