US State Department calls on Russia to withdraw occupation forces from Georgia
The Department of State released the statement on the eve of the 12th anniverary of the conflict. Photo via politico.com.
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The US Department of State has called on Russia to withdraw its forces from the occupied regions of Georgia and fulfil obligations of the 2008 ceasefire agreement it signed to end the conflict.
The agency's Office of Press and Policy Outreach in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs released the statement on its Twitter account condemning Russian armed forces' invasion and occupation of the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
In the tweet the office called on the Russian government to withdraw the troops currently occupying the region as well as Abkhazia in the north-west and adhere to the agreement signed to end the five-day conflict.
It has been 12 years since Russia invaded Georgia, killing hundreds and driving tens of thousands from their homes. Russia still occupies 20% of Georgia’s territory. We again call on Russia to withdraw its forces and fulfill its promises under the 2008 ceasefire agreement pic.twitter.com/mlnJEScXMo
— EUR-Press Office (@EURPressOffice) August 7, 2020
An accompanying video address said occupying forces had also advanced "hundreds of metres further" into Georgian-controlled territory over the past year, endangering civilian lives further during the ongoing pandemic.
The address also touched on the "groundless Russian disinformation" against the Tbilisi-based Lugar Centre for Public Health, involved in efforts against COVID-19.
The State Department office's statement was released on the eve of the 12th anniversary of the August 2008 war, marked on Saturday.
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.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to cease its illegal and provocative steps against Georgia, fulfil its obligations under the Ceasefire Agreement of August 12, 2008, and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.
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.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.
Georgia has condemned the adoption of a plan to create a common socio-economic space between Russia and the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia which comes after the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and De-facto President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania on November 12.
The US State Secretary Antony Blinken and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell have promised to further address Russia’s aggression in Georgia and Ukraine in a coordinated manner.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have resumed the creeping occupation near the village of Ghogheti, Kareli municipality in central Georgia, close to the country’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region. The occupation forces have made the so-called anti-fire tilths on the Tbilisi-controlled territory. Locals say that their lands have appeared under the Russian-controlled following the illegality.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has appealed for "essential effort" from the international community in the process of ending the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia, in a release on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the occupation.
Georgian and foreign officials and diplomatic missions have issued condemnations of Russia's ongoing occupation of two of Georgia's regions and called on the Russian government to comply with the ceasefire agreement that ended the 2008 war between the two countries, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the conflict.
The United States has condemned the opening of polling stations in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions for the September 19 Duma elections of Russia, Spokesperson of the US Department of State Ned Price has tweeted. The Georgian Foreign Ministry has also condemned the move, stating that Russia ‘once again violated the international law’ and urged the international community to give a ‘due response’ to the country’s illegal activities in Georgia.