Czech Senate President says EU response to Tskhinvali occupation, Crimea annexation “weak”, calls for “unity”

Miloš Vystrčil, the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, on Monday said the European Union's response to the Russian occupation of Georgia’s Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea has been “weak”, and called for “unity” within the Union over the matters.

Following a meeting with his Georgian counterpart Shalva Papuashvili, the President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament said his country supported the territorial integrity of Georgia and pointed out Russia had violated the principles of international law in both Georgia and Ukraine.

Given how weak the EU's response to both the occupation of the Tskhinvali region in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 was, now is the time for unity and we have a very clear position in the EU,” Vystrčil said.

The Czech official condemned Russia's aggression in Ukraine and stressed he appreciated Georgia’s economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

I very much appreciate the economic and humanitarian assistance that went from Georgia to Ukraine. Economic cooperation is also an important precondition for that. Our common goal should be not to depend on Russian resources,” he noted at a press briefing with the Georgian parliament Speaker.