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.
Tweet 
Share
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.