PM Gakharia on 12th anniversary of Russia-Georgia war: ‘Russia must end its destabilisation actions’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that Russia must end its destabilisation actions in Georgia while speaking on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, referring to the occupation of 20 per cent of Georgian territories and the creeping occupation.
On the 12th anniversary of the August 2008 War, we pay tribute to the soldiers & civilians who lost their lives defending our homeland. Russia must end its destabilizing actions & fulfill the 2008 Ceasefire Agreement. This war remains an open wound for each & every Georgian.
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) August 7, 2020
The EU, UN, US and several top foreign officials have already responded to the anniversary of the war, condemning the occupation and calling upon Russia to withdraw its forces from historic Georgian lands.
The EU representation to Georgia said that ‘Russia continues its illegal presence on Georgian territory and that the EU’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia ‘remains as strong as ever’.
The US reaffirmed its support and stated that ‘Russian-led security forces continue to encroach deeper into Georgian territory, trying to expand the occupied territories meter by meter.’
Consequences of Russian aggression in 2008 in Georgia include:
- Human losses: 412 killed on the Georgian side – including 170 military servicemen, 14 policemen and 228 civilians
- 1,747 wounded on the Georgian side – including 973 military servicemen, 227 policemen and 547 civilians
- Three journalists killed, six journalists wounded
- 130,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – out of which 26,000 are still denied the right of return. [Overall, the number of IDPs from both occupied regions is now close to half a million]
- 35,000 houses burned, ruined and destroyed
- 125 more villages have been occupied since the August 2008 war