The Georgian State Security Service wrote in its annual report released today that the presence of Russian forces in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions is the "major threat” to the Georgian state.
The ongoing, informal annexation of the Georgian occupied territories by Russia, increasing militarization, deliberate isolation of the occupied territories, illegal detention of Georgian citizens and the ethnic discrimination of Georgians remain key challenges for the Georgian state security,” the report reads.
The report noted that the illegal detention and murder of Archil Tatunashvili once again revealed the "grave situation” in the occupied regions.
Current developments in the occupied regions of Georgia clearly indicate a deliberate, gradual annexation of historic Georgian lands by Russia,” says the report.
The Security Service claims that Russia gradually rejects the so-called sovereignty of the occupied territories and is exercising full control on the so-called state services of the breakaway regions.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent republics in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Only Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru have shared Russia’s position so far, while the rest of the international community recognizes the regions as integral parts of Georgia.