US ambassador to UN: Russia systematically supporting, ignoring abuses of Georgian citizens in, near occupied regions
The US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has called on OSCE to push for Russia to end its occupation of Georgian territories. Photo: Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
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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.
Russia has not yet fully implemented the 2008 ceasefire, including its obligation to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, or its commitment to allow unfettered access for humanitarian organizations. The United States firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the OSCE to push for Russia to end its occupation and implement the 2008 ceasefire agreement in full,” the ambassador said at a UN Security Council briefing on OSCE cooperation yesterday.
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.
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).
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.
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.’
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 UN Human Rights Council has demanded ‘immediate and unimpeded access be given to the office of the High Commissioner and international and regional human rights mechanisms’ to Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali 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.