Georgian MFA: Russian reports on Belarus recognising Georgia’s occupied regions are ‘disinformation’
MFA dismissed Russian media reports claiming Belarus has started a procedure to recognise the independence of Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has dismissed Russian media reports claiming Belarus has started a procedure to recognise the independence of Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali), calling them 'disinformation.'
Following the reports from Russian online media outlets on Belarusian government's plans to recognise Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, Georgian officials contacted Belarusian MFA and legislative authorities who dismissed the claims.
The Belarusian side dismissed the reports as 'fake news' and denied any attempt of the Belarusian authorities to consider the recognition of independence of Georgia’s occupied territories, Georgian MFA reported.
The reports started to appear on Russian Telegram channels in August, with Voice of Abkhazia claiming that Belarus was going to recognise Abkhazia's sovereignty.
Russian-owned media outlet Sputnik reported earlier today that Telegram messages claiming that Belarusian Parliament was starting recognition procedures for Abkhazia and South Ossetia were 'fake and nonsense.'
The Georgian State Security Service says that illegal detention of Georgian citizens by the Russian-controlled occupation forces for so-called ‘illegally crossing the border’ is a common issue since Russia-Georgia 2008.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained two Georgian citizens close to the village of Lopani in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali. The State Security Service has meanwhile noted that the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and other international partners have been informed and the hotline has been activated.
The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to tweets by the opposition and several former foreign diplomats critical of the anti-terrorism and anti-corruption agreement signed with Belarus back in 2016, stating that the ‘ordinary agreement’ poses no threats to anyone, including the Belarus citizens who are in Georgia.
Russian occupation forces have illegally detained three citizens of Georgia near the village of Khurcha in Zugdidi Municipality, on territory controlled by the central government of Georgia, on January 18 at about 20:30, announces the State Security Service of Georgia. The State Security Service of Georgia has activated the hotline and demanded the immediate release of the illegally detained individuals.
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani has denounced the disrespect for the Georgian national flag in Russian state-owned TV program, expressing his concerns to the Swiss Ambassador to Russia Krystyna Marty Lang, who paid an official visit to Georgia. The program, which aired on Russian state-owned TV channel Russia-24 on November 9, showed the presenters standing on top of the Georgian national flag.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have illegally arrested one Georgian citizen near de facto Tskhinvali, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed.
Belarusian and de-facto Abkhaz officials met in Minsk, Belarus earlier today amidst rumors that Belarus intends to recognise the independence of Abkhazia.
The Russian-controlled occupation forces have illegally arrested two Georgian citizens near de facto Tskhinvali, at the village of Tsinagara, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed.
Russian occupation forces have illegally arrested Georgian citizen Mamuka Chkhikvadze near Zemo Nikozi village in Gori municipality earlier today.
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken to Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Li Yang regarding an alleged meeting between de facto Abkhaz Ambassador Bagrat Khutuba and Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao.
Recognition of independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), two Russian-occupied Georgian regions, by Belarus is not on the agenda, Georgian foreign ministry spokesperson Mari Narchemashvili said on Monday, following comments made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.