Deputy FM: “all responsibility” for Georgia’s occupied territories rests with Russia

Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said “all responsibility” for Georgia’s occupied territories rested with Russia, and noted the stance was “not only a political statement, but also a legally proven fact”.

In his remarks ahead of today’s round of the Geneva International Discussions, a platform facilitating talks between the Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the country’s occupied regions, the Deputy Minister noted hosting the talks acquired a “special importance” on the backdrop of “complicated security environment”.

“This first of all emphasises that the Georgia-Russia conflict is an important part of the international agenda, and we have strong support from our partners”, the Georgian diplomat said. 

Unambiguously, all responsibility for the occupied territories rests with Russia, and this is not only a political statement, but also a legally proven fact. It has been proven by the European Court of Human Rights and several times already”, Darsalia said in reference to rulings by the ECHR.

He also stressed Russia had “always” used human rights issues as a “pressure mechanism”.

Illegal ‘borderisation’, illegal detentions, a number of human rights violations in Gali, Akhalgori, in the occupied territories - they serve the sole purpose of being used as a pressure mechanism”, the official said.

The Georgian diplomat stressed the importance of positions of Georgia’s partners, and of ensuring “even stronger support” from them, in security matters. 

This forces Russia - today or tomorrow - to fulfil its obligations before the international law and take responsibility for the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia”, Darsalia concluded.