Putin supports simplified dual citizenship rules for residents of Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new agreement on citizenship issues with de facto Tskhinvali on August 4 by a special decree. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a bill proposed by the country’s Foreign Ministry ‘to resolve dual citizenship issues’ with Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The agreement, which was signed for a length of five years and which will automatically prolong after the expiration of the term, offers simplified procedures for obtaining Russian citizenship and dual citizenship for the residents of Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry says that the agreement ‘is a continuation of Moscow's policy of illegal occupation and de facto annexation of Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.’
Up to date Russia continues creeping occupation of Georgian territories. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The ministry stated that Russia began ‘illegal, forced passportisation of the population of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions in the early 2000s and in 2008 (during and after the Russia-Georgia war) tried to justify the military aggression against Georgia through this illegitimate process (tried to portray that it was protecting Russian citizens in the war).
The international community is united in condemning the process of illegal passportisation of the occupied territories of Georgia by Russia and considers it a gross violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the international law,” said the ministry.
Russia recognised Georgian Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions as independent republics after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Since then only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined Russia in the decision.
The rest of the international community is unanimous that the regions are occupied by Russia and call upon the country to withdraw its forces from the Georgian territory.
Georgian Prime Minister Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to the recent death of four individuals from the country’s Russian-occupied Gali district and stated that the ‘occupation regime will definitely be held accountable for all its illegal actions in Georgia.’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated that the Russian-controlled occupation forces are responsible for the death of individuals who drowned in the river of Enguri while trying to cross into Tbilisi-controlled territory from the Russian occupied Gali district of Georgia. The bodies of two 30 and 38-year old women and a 65-year-old man were found earlier today, while the husband of one of the deceased women is still missing.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office report for 2019 says that increased Russian interference led to a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation in the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia-Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Russian occupying forces have resumed ‘borderisation’ activities on the territory of the villages of Pakhulani and Saberio, near the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupying forces are changing the existing barbed wire fences and installing additional illegal installations on the ground.
UN Security Council Member countries have condemned ‘Russia’s illegal military presence’ and annexation of Georgian regions in the run up to the 13th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and Albania (incoming Security Council Member country) have expressed their unwavering support for ‘Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.’