US state department spokesperson: Russia must reverse recognition of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions

Ned Price, the United States state department spokesperson, on Wednesday said the US remained “steadfast” in its support for Georgia and for its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and called on Russia to reverse its recognition of the occupied territories.

In comments over the visit of Aleksandr Lukashenko, the president of Belarus to the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia, Price stressed Russia “must be held accountable” for the commitments it had made under the 2008 ceasefire agreement that obligated the country to withdraw its troops from Georgian territory.

Russia must withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions and reverse its recognition of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did release a statement today condemning the visit of Alexander Lukashenko to Abkhazia”, Price said.

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday “strongly” condemned Lukashenko’s visit to Abkhazia and his meeting with the representatives of the occupation regime.

Garibashvili said the step violated Georgia’s law on occupied territories and contradicted international law as well as bilateral relations between Georgia and Belarus.