Georgia condemns adoption of program on creation of common socio-economic space between Russia, occupied Abkhazia
Georgian Foreign Ministry says that the adoption of the programme is ‘yet another provocation by Russia.’ Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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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 Georgian Foreign Ministry has stated that ‘it is yet another step taken by Russia towards the annexation of Georgian territories.’
The ministry said that the so-called agreement on Alliance and Strategic Partnership between Russia and occupied Abkhazia signed back in 2014 and all documents and programmes made per the agreement are unlawful and contradict international law.
#Georgia condems adoption of program on creation of common socio-economic space btwn Russia &occupied #Abkhazia reg as another illegal step twrd de-facto #annexation.
— Ketevan Chumbadze (@kchumbadze) November 24, 2020
Time 4decisive steps of int'l community 2prevent #Crimea-2 in #Europe.
RF must implement #EU-mediated #ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/wTaE4Ud926
The ministry stated that Russia is engaged in making provocations which pose a threat to regional peace.
The ministry called upon Russia to act in line with the 2008 ceasefire agreement and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.
The de-facto government of Abkhazia says that the adoption of the programme ‘is a logical continuation’ of the agreement on Alliance and Strategic Partnership.
The programme aims at creating favorable conditions for the full participation of the Republic of Abkhazia in integration processes carried out on the initiative and assistance of the Russian Federation. Implementation of the programme will take about two-three years. During this period, it is planned to harmonise legislation in many fields: economy and finance (budget and tax policies), investments, customs law, energy, social field (medicine, education, social protection),” says the de-facto government.
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 in that the regions are occupied by Russia and call on the country to leave the Georgian territory.
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.
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.
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.
De facto President of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region Aslan Bzhania says that the creation of a common defence and security system with Russia ‘is a primary goal for Abkhazia.’
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine ‘strongly condemns and does not recognise’ the agreement on the so-called program for the formation of a common social and economic space between Russia and Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has responded to the claims of Russian-occupied Abkhazia region that two Turkish banks, Isbank and Ziraat Bank, have started servicing their Apra cards.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Mikhail Petrakov his special representative for border delimitation and demarcation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, as well as Georgia and its Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
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.’
The US Embassy to Georgia has stated that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the 2008 war case is clearly in favour of Georgia.
The US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has stated that Russia continues to occupy 20 per cent of Georgian territories ‘while supporting or systematically ignoring abuses of Georgian citizens living in or near Georgia’s Russian-occupoied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
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.