US State Secretary highlights “strong support” for Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, Euro-Atlantic aspirations on anniversary of Russia’s 2008 aggression
In comment, Blinken noted Russia was still refusing to abide by the EU-brokered ceasefire commitments which, among other clauses, required Moscow to withdraw its troops to pre-conflict positions in Georgia. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP
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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.
In comment, Blinken noted Russia was still refusing to abide by the EU-brokered ceasefire commitments which, among other clauses, required Moscow to withdraw its troops to pre-conflict positions in Georgia.
“Today marks fifteen years since Russia invaded Georgia and occupied 20 percent of its land. Russia still refuses to abide by its 2008 ceasefire commitments. The United States strongly supports Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations”, Blinken said in a social media message.
Today marks fifteen years since Russia invaded Georgia and occupied 20% of its land. Russia still refuses to abide by its 2008 ceasefire commitments. The United States strongly supports Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 7, 2023
Earlier today the Georgian foreign office highlighted a “serious threat to the security architecture” of the wider region and Europe, posed by Russia’s 2008 invasion.
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 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.
Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, on Monday urged the country’s authorities to “use all international mechanisms” and ensure further engagement of the international community to “intensify” pressure on Russia to protect the rights of the people living in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, in his message on the 15th anniversary of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.
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.
The Georgian State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civil Equality on Monday said Russia was proceeding with its illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions in “gross violation” of international law and the 2008 ceasefire agreement, in a message for the 15th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 conflict.
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 Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the international community “turning a blind eye” to Russia’s military intervention in Georgia in 2008 had led to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin.
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.
The United Nations Security Council members Albania, France, Japan, Malta, the United Kingdom and the United States on Thursday called on Russia to withdraw its military and security forces from the occupied territories of Georgia “without delay”, in a statement for the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.