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.’
OSCE chairwoman Ann Linde visited Georgia earlier today and reaffirmed the OSCE’s ‘strong support’ to Georgia in resolving conflicts and strengthening institutions. She has already met with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the country’s civil society representatives. Linde, who is Swedish FM, has stated that peaceful resolution of Russian-Georgian conflict is among the priorities of Sweden’s chairmanship of OSCE.
The United States Mission to the OSCE has stated that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case ‘adds further weight to the international community’s demand that Russia cease its blatant violations of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’.
Georgian officials, state institutions and the wider society are marking 13 years since the 2008 war that left tens of thousands displaced from their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, while over 400 citizens of the country were killed.
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.
Today Georgia is commemorating the 29th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the area becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. In recognition of the date Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that 'historical justice will be restored and Georgia will definitely be united'.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has met with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo earlier today and has thanked him for his country’s support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Georgian government administration announces.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has begun considering a total of 59 individual complaints against Russia over the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, which left tens of thousands displaced from their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) announced on Tuesday.
The International Criminal Court in Hague has issued arrest warrants against three de facto officials of Georgia's Russian-occupied breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in a case of torture and ill-treatment of Georgian civilians during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the Georgian Justice Ministry announced earlier today.