Parliament official stresses Russia “has to fulfil” 2008 ceasefire obligations

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Tuesday said Russia “has to fulfil” the terms of the ceasefire agreement that ended the 2008 war between the countries. 

Kadagishvili was commenting on a statement by Maria Zakharova, the Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who on Monday demanded from Georgia a binding agreement on the non-use of force against the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), to be signed with the de facto authorities in the territories.

“Russia has to fulfil the terms of the August 2008 peace agreement on the cessation of war. Until these conditions are met, other statements are parts of a political blackmail”, Kadagishvili said.

We have made a promise that the Georgian side will not use force [in the occupied territories]. [But the principle of] [n]on-use of force should be between Georgia and Russia”, the Parliament official said, in reference to a move that would recognise the Russian Government as a side in the conflict.

• Ruling party MP calls on Russia to fulfil 2008 ceasefire obligations, withdraw occupation troops

Earlier today, Aluda Gudushauri, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream Party, stressed Zakharova's statement was “immoral, distorted” and “ignored the facts”.