OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia: ‘Russia must withdraw forces to pre-2008 war positions'
A column of Russian armored vehicles moves through North Ossetia towards the Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia's capital Tskhinvali on August 8, 2008. Photo: AP/Musa Sadulayev.
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The Group of Friends of Georgia in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has released a statement in which they call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions in Georgia.
Twelve years have passed since Russia launched a military attack on Georgia to solidify its control over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The anniversary of the August 2008 war was a somber reminder of the thousands who have suffered and continue to suffer in the wake of Russia’s invasion", said the US Ambassador to OSCE Jim Gilmore III who delivered the statement of the Group of Friends of Georgia in the OSCE on September 3.
The Group of Friends of Georgia include Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The statement reads that Russia-led security forces continue to ‘encroach deeper into Georgia’, trying to expand the occupied territories meter by meter, 'a matter that should certainly be a focus of concern of this Permanent Council'.
Russia’s obligation under the 2008 ceasefire agreement is clear: Russia must withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions. Russia also committed to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We also call again on Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It is essential for hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people to be able to voluntarily return to their homes safely and with dignity", said Gilmore III.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Georgia to the OSCE Ketevan Tsikhelashvili also delivered her speech at the OSCE where she said that Russia still is not fulfilling the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 and is further strengthening the militarisation of the occupied territories and taking steps towards their de facto annexation.
Georgian national flags were lowered to half mast on Saturday as government officials and Georgia's international partners marked 12 years since the 2008 war between Russia and 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.
The Chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak has stated in Tbilisi that Slovakia, which took over the chairmanship of the OSCE this year, is firm in its support of Georgia’s efforts to deal with domestic and foreign challenges.
The group of friends of Georgia in the OSCE has delivered a joint statement to reaffirm their “firm support” for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemn the Russian aggression and demand the release of a well-known Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili who has been in illegal detention in Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region for about a month.
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.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia have congratulated Helga Schmid on becoming secretary general of the OSCE. At the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council on December 4, participating states appointed new senior leadership for the organisation, including Helga Schmid who replaced Thomas Greminger as secretary general.
Georgian top officials have stated that the country’s victory in the August 2008 war case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is ‘historic and an enormous victory for the country.’
Georgia has won the 2008 war case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court released its judgement earlier today which says that Russia violated several articles of the European Convention on Human rights during the conflict and carried out ethnic cleansing of Georgians. The court said that Russia is carrying out an effective control of Georgia’s Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions and is responsible for the violation of human rights of Georgian citizens.
A joint statement of 16 countries of the OSCE expressed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia August War.