The Council of Europe has issued its seventh decision on ‘The Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia’ supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity urging Russia to implement the provisions of the EU mediated Ceasefire Agreement signed on August 12, 2008.
12 years after the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia, the Russian Federation continues to impede the peaceful conflict resolution process and to undermine the security and stability in the wider region through its continuing military presence in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, increased military exercises and infrastructure reinforcements,” reads the decision by the Committee of Ministers.
The decision says that the country, ‘as the only sovereign state under international law over its regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia’, is still prevented from exercising the legitimate jurisdiction over these regions due to the continuous impediments put up by Russia, including its continuing military presence therein;
In its yesterday’s Decision the @coe reiterated unwavering support for #Georgia’s ???????? sovereignty & territorial integrity within its int'lly recognized borders & called upon #Russia ???????? to implement the provisions of the EU ???????? mediated Ceasefire Agreement of 12 AUG 2008 pic.twitter.com/ESPr0tPeqq
— Shalva Tsiskarashvili (@tsiskarashvili) October 22, 2020
The Committee once again called upon Russia to withdraw military and security forces from the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
[CoE] called upon the Russian Federation to stop and reverse this illegal process and to comply with its international obligations and commitments, including under the EU mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, in particular with regard to the withdrawal of military and security forces from the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and allowing the establishment of international security mechanisms on the ground.”
The document expresses grave concern over the continued arbitrary detentions of local inhabitants along the administrative boundary lines and over impunity around the deaths of Georgian IDPs – David Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatunashvili, and expressed concern over the death of another Georgian citizen – Irakli Kvaratskhelia, ‘under unclear circumstances at a military base of Russian FSB forces in the Abkhazia region.’