EU official: bloc expresses “strong concern” about Moscow’s reported plans for naval base in occupied Abkhazia
The EU official concluded his comments by noting that the EU "reiterates its firm support” for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Photo: euneighbourseast.eu
Tweet 
Share
Peter Stano, the European Union Spokesperson for External Affairs, on Friday said the bloc expressed “strong concern” about Russia’s reported plans to establish a naval military base in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia.
His comments followed the reports of Aslan Bzhania, the de facto President of the Abkhazia region, who on Thursday told the Russian media he had signed a “new agreement” with the Kremlin over the deployment of the permanent naval base in the city of Ochamchire in the “near future”.
In his statement Stano said the Russian military presence in Georgia was “illegal” and it violated the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the principles of international law and international commitments taken by Russia, including the August 12, 2008 agreement and its implementing measures of September 8, 2008.
Georgia:???????? strongly concerned about ???????? plans to establish naval base in breakaway Abkhazia.Russian military presence in???????? is illegal,violates its sovereignty,international law & own commitments by ????????. Such base would increase tensions &threaten stability https://t.co/jwrItFzXUQ
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) October 6, 2023
He also stressed “should Russia proceed with the reported plans, it would further increase tensions and threats to stability in the region”.
The EU official concluded his comments by noting that the EU "reiterates its firm support” for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday called Russia’s plans a “continuation” of the occupation and an “illegal decision”.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry also said on Thursday it was “concerned” by Moscow’s plans to deploy a permanent military base and called on Russia to act “in accordance with international obligations” and the ceasefire agreement signed with Tbilisi following the 2008 conflict between the countries and withdraw its troops from the Georgian occupied regions.
Paweł Herczyński, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, on Friday said media reports about alleged plans for a Russian naval military base in Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia were “extremely worrying”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday called Russia’s plans to deploy a permanent naval military base in the Russian-occupied north-western Abkhazia region’s city of Ochamchire - a continuation of the occupation.
The Georgian foreign office on Thursday said it was “concerned” by Moscow’s plans to deploy a permanent naval military base in the Russian-occupied north-western Abkhazia region’s city of Ochamchire.
Gia Volski, the Georgian Parliament’s Vice Speaker, on Thursday said there was “no formal deal” between Russia and Georgia’s Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia following claims by the de facto President of the region of a “new agreement” with Moscow about the deployment of a Russian naval base in the coastal city of Ochamchire.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Georgian Government was “successfully implementing” the policy of non-recognition of the country’s Russian-occupied territories by foreign countries, and noted “no statement can prevent us from doing so”.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday said Russia’s “illegal move” to establish a permanent naval military base in the Russian-occupied north-western Abkhazia region’s city of Ochamchire was a “direct threat” to Georgia, its European aspirations, as well as to the Black Sea security.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said it was "important" for the international community and the country’s Western partners to condemn Russia’s reported plans to establish a naval military base in the city of Ochamchire in Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said “any action” carried out in Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories was “completely unacceptable”, in response to reports that said the Kremlin had decided to transfer ships of its Black Sea Fleet from Ukraine’s occupied Crimea peninsula to the port of the city of Ochamchire in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region.