Georgian foreign office highlights “serious threat to security architecture” on 15th anniversary of Russia’s 2008 aggression
The foreign office noted Russia was continuing to occupy Georgia’s indivisible regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) while ignoring the fundamental norms and principles of international law. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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The Georgian foreign office on Monday highlighted a “serious threat to the security architecture” of the wider region and Europe posed by the 2008 intervention of Russia into Georgia, in comments over the 15th anniversary of the aggression that sparked that year’s war between the two countries.
“In August 2008, the first case of violation of the territorial integrity and borders of a sovereign country by Russia was carried out, which posed a serious threat to the security architecture of the region and Europe as a whole”, the statement said.
The foreign office noted Russia was continuing to occupy Georgia’s indivisible regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) while ignoring the fundamental norms and principles of international law.
Russia is not complying with the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, expanding its illegal control in the occupied regions, and various actions - including the construction of artificial barriers, restrictions on the free movement of the population affected by the conflict, illegal detentions and others - are dealing a blow to the already difficult security and humanitarian environment on the ground”, the statement noted.
The Ministry also stressed the process of the Kremlin creating a “common social and economic space” with the occupied territories and signing various so-called integration agreements and memoranda with them was “strengthening the effective control” of Russia on the ground and contributing to the isolation of the population living in the occupied territories, which it said had been separated as a result of the war both from the rest of Georgia and from the international community.
To this day, the occupying force hinders unrestricted access of international human rights protection organisations and deployment of international security mechanisms on the ground. Also, the EU Monitoring Mission is not allowed to enter the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, despite the mandate of the Mission”, the foreign office said.
The statement also said the Georgian Government continued to implement the policy of peaceful resolution of the Russian-Georgian conflict and was “eager” to ensure “deoccupation and peaceful development of the country” by using diplomatic and legal instruments and ensuring close cooperation with international partners.
“The Georgian Government is taking steps to ensure reconciliation and restoration of trust between societies divided by occupation lines and to build a common European future”, the statement noted.
The foreign office also extended its gratitude to the international community for the “unwavering and unconditional” support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and emphasised the contribution of international partners in the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict.
It called on Russia to “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, fulfil its obligations to the European Union under the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, and withdraw its forces from the territory of Georgia”, and offered condolences to the “families and relatives of the servicemembers and civilians who heroically died in the 2008 war”.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Tuesday endorsed amendments to the resolution on the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia that had been initiated by Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament.
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Friday hailed the victory of the country over Russia in a European Court of Human Rights case related to the 2008 war between the two states and stressed “historical justice always wins over historical injustice, no matter how much time passes”.
Georgia has won all 3,300 complaints filed against it following the 2008 war with Russia to the European Court of Human Rights over potential violations and crimes committed during the conflict, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said on Friday.
Georgia has won the 2008 war case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court released its judgement earlier today which says that Russia violated several articles of the European Convention on Human rights during the conflict and carried out ethnic cleansing of Georgians. The court said that Russia is carrying out an effective control of Georgia’s Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions and is responsible for the violation of human rights of Georgian citizens.
Foreign government officials, dignitaries of international organisations and diplomats on Monday expressed their support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and condemned Russia’s 2008 aggression against it in comments over the 15th anniversary of the conflict.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said his country’s Government “strongly” supported Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, in remarks over the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two countries.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday highlighted the occupation of Georgian territories by Russia remained the “main challenge” for the sovereignty and further development of the country, in remarks over the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday expressed his belief the country must regain its Russian-occupied territories through a “peaceful, correct, smart and pragmatic” policy, in remarks over the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday highlighted the ongoing occupation of Georgian territories by Russia on the 15th anniversary of the 2008 war between the two countries.
Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, on Tuesday said her country’s Government was reaffirming its “attachment” to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders, in remarks for the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.