UN Security Council members call on Russia withdraw its military, security forces from territory of Georgia “without delay”
The statement underlined the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 had marked a “more aggressive trend” in Russia’s policy regarding its neighbouring countries and the European security architecture. Photo: Twitter/Norway UN
Tweet 
Share
United Nations Security Council member and incoming member states on Monday released a joint statement that called on Russia to withdraw its military and security forces from the occupied regions of Georgia “without delay”.
Security Council members France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and Albania, as well as incoming members Japan and Malta condemned Russia’s illegal 2008 invasion of Georgia and its continued military presence and exercise of control over integral parts of the country, and called on the Kremlin to fully implement its obligations and commitments under the ceasefire agreement that ended the conflict.
Media stakeout by ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????:
— NorwayUN (@NorwayUN) August 15, 2022
We condemn Russia’s illegal invasion and continued military presence and exercising of control over integral parts of #Georgia.
We call on Russia to fully implement its obligations and commitments.
➡️https://t.co/WeAZ4ve9cc pic.twitter.com/Qi0cfA0gfL
The statement underlined the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 had marked a “more aggressive trend” in Russia’s policy regarding its neighbouring countries and the European security architecture.
We deplore the continuous blatant violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia by the Russian Federation. We condemn Russia’s illegal invasion and continued military presence and exercising of control over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, integral parts of Georgia, and its steps toward annexation of these Georgian regions”, the statement said.
The Security Council members also reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s “continuous provocations, the continued military presence and military drills on Georgia’s territory, the enhanced so-called “borderisation” process, unlawful detentions and kidnappings of the local population, hindrance of freedom of movement and lengthy closures of so-called crossing points, discrimination against ethnic Georgians in Gali and Akhalgori districts, and prohibition on education in residents’ native language”.
We recall with regret the uninvestigated murders of Georgian citizens Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatunashvili, whose perpetrators have not yet been brought to justice and held accountable”, the statement noted in reference to Georgian nationals killed in the occupied territories.
The statement also called on Russia to withdraw its recognition of independence of the two occupied regions in the wake of the war.
We reiterate our 14 years old call to Russia to reverse the recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s territories Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and not to impede the creation of an international security mechanism and allow access of international human rights organisations to both regions”, the statement concluded.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili welcomed the statement and said the international community “manifests its support to Georgia and calls on Russia to implement the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement” through such statements.
Thankful to UNSC current-???????????????????????????????????????????????? & incoming-???????????????? members for their Joint Statement made after SC AoB discussion on ???????? to mark 14 yrs since ????????-???????? war. Through such statements, int'l community manifests its support to ???????? & calls on ???????? to impl.????????-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agrmt.
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) August 15, 2022
Georgia’s policy focused on “peace, mutual respect and dialogue” will bring the country “closer to the day” when we continue to build a “united, strong, peaceful, democratic state” along with “Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Sunday in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the territory becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday released a statement on the 14th anniversary of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, calling on Russia to “cease illegal and provocative steps” against Georgia, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, fulfil its obligations under the European Union-mediated ceasefire agreement by withdrawing its forces from the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), and reverse its illegal decision on recognising their independence.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Georgian Government would “always work” to ensure restoration of its territorial integrity and unification of “sisters and brothers” across the occupation line, but the objective would not be accomplished through war.
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said Russia should not have the “illusion” that the international community will “ever accept” its occupation of parts of Georgia and Ukraine.