Russia used Ukraine war to “intensify annexation” of occupied Georgian regions - State Security Service

Russia used its ongoing aggression against Ukraine to “intensify its annexation efforts” in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions last year, a report by the Georgian State Security Service said. 

The report, which will be reviewed at a joint session of the Parliamentary committees of Defence and Security and Legal Affairs and Human Rights on Friday, said the occupation forces had staged “misinformation” of locals in the regions by alleging plans by the central Georgian Government of use of force against them on the backdrop of Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine. 

The agency said the “fake information” on Tbilisi’s preparations for the alleged attack had been aimed at encouraging a “conciliatory attitude” towards Russia's annexation policy among the population to allow Moscow to proceed with the policy “in a smooth manner”. 

Russia's annexation policy took on an even more complex form on the backdrop of its conflict with Ukraine, which was especially evident in the developments involving real estate in occupied Abkhazia”, said the body. 

The de facto Abkhaz authorities and Russia in January 2022 signed a deal on “free transfer” of the Bichvinta resort complex to Russia and handover of surrounding plots of land and beach on lease, the Service noted, adding the de facto Parliament had not ratified the agreement so far due to public protests. 

The agency said a 20-hectare plot of land had been handed to a Russian company owned by the former Governor of the Krasnodar region and former Minister of Agriculture of Russia for "permanent use" in a separate case of illegal transfer on October 27.

The body also highlighted the occupation forces were continuing discrimination of ethnic Georgians living in the occupied regions and violating their fundamental rights. 

The report was submitted to the legislative body in April.