Parliament speaker highlights security risks of occupation amid Russia’s Ukraine invasion
Papuashvili noted that since the start of the “aggressive war” by Russia against Ukraine, the security environment had become “particularly” subject of risks. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday highlighted security risks Georgia faced on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a country that had a part of its territory occupied.
Papuashvili noted that since the start of the “aggressive war” by Russia against Ukraine, the security environment had become “particularly” subject of risks.
In general with regards to the security environment, after the start of the aggressive war by Russia against Ukraine, the fact that the security environment is particularly full of risks is what we have been talking about for several months, and we see the opponents [from a part of domestic opposition] trying to simplify this issue”, the head of the legislative body said.
Papuashvili stressed the country that had occupied parts of Georgia’s territory was currently waging an “aggressive war” against Ukraine, leading to the risks being multiplied.
[A] country whose part is occupied is itself at a high risk in terms of security. [...] We live in an environment of these risks, and that is why the Georgian government is trying to pass through this period thoughtfully in this very dangerous environment”, he concluded.
The Georgian Government has supported Ukraine “at all international levels” and will continue to do so on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of the country, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili told a meeting of the Government on Monday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Philip Reeker, the Senior Adviser of the United States Department of State for Caucasus Negotiations and the Geneva International Discussions, met in Tbilisi on Monday to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, regional and global security challenges and the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, the Administration of the Government of Georgia said.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday appointed Ambassador Philip Reeker as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, and noted the significance of the Geneva International Discussions, a platform created following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war and in the wake of the ongoing occupation of Georgian regions, for the US.
United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker has stated in Tbilisi that Georgia remains the US’s top strategic partnership in the South Caucasus and a crucial partner in the Black Sea region. He said that his recent visit to Georgia aimed to ensure the further development of Georgia as a safe and a democratic country ‘for which the implementation of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement is important.’
Georgian deputy foreign minister Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said the 56th round of the Geneva International Discussions would focus on the need to fulfil the obligations undertaken by Russia under the 2008 ceasefire agreement that ended the conflict between the two countries.
Georgian deputy foreign minister Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said the negotiation process at the 56th round of Geneva International Discussions had been “particularly difficult”, and noted the Georgian side, “as always”, had included the fulfilment of the six-point agreement by Russia in its agenda.