OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia: We reaffirm our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity
The Group of Friends of Georgia have expressed their concern over Russia’s ongoing military presence in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region). Photo: 1tv.ge.
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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.
The statement noted that 13 years have passed since Russia invaded and occupied Georgian territories and called on Russia ‘to immediately fulfil its obligation under the ceasefire agreement and withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions.’
The war between Russia and Georgia started on August 8, 2008, and lasted for five days. 408 Georgian people died in the armed conflict and about 26,000 people were left internally displaced.
The Group of Friends of Georgia have expressed their concern over Russia’s ongoing military presence in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region).
We condemn Russia’s steps to unilaterally establish the Georgia-Russia state border on segments of the occupied territories...We urge Russia to reverse this process,” the statement says.
Joint statement of Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America https://t.co/YieUr35FSF
— UK Delegation OSCE (@UKOSCE) August 12, 2021
The joint statement also calls on Russian Federation to comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment to ‘allow internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their homes in safety and dignity.’
The statement assessed the recent release of illegally detained Zaza Gakheladze as a positive development and called for the ‘immediate and unconditional release of those remaining under arbitrary detention.’
We condemn the killing of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and Davit Basharuli, and urge the Russian Federation to remove any obstacles to bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the joint statement reads.
The Group of Friends of Georgia urges Russia to fully resume all the administrative boundary lines (ABLs) crossings in both regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region) to ‘help ease the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19.’