Georgian FM calls on Russia to implement ceasefire agreement of August 12, withdraw forces from Georgia
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, once again calling on Russia to reverse its decision to recognise the so-called independence of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to cease its illegal and provocative steps against Georgia, fulfil its obligations under the Ceasefire Agreement of August 12, 2008, and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, once again calling on Russia to reverse its decision to recognise the so-called independence of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions:
The Russian Federation intensifies the illegal militarisation of Georgia’s occupied regions and takes steps towards their de-facto annexation. It is particularly concerning that the fortification of the occupation line with barbed wire fences and different artificial barriers has become a daily practice, which has been accompanied with illegal detentions and kidnappings of the local population”, says the ministry.
In its official statement the ministry also mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia has been actively using hybrid warfare tools against Georgia.
It is worrisome that along with the Richard Lugar Centre for Public Health (Lugar Lab), the EU monitoring Mission has also become a target of Russia’s disinformation attacks. Furthermore, amid the UN General Secretary’s call for an immediate Global Ceasefire, the occupation forces have not refrained from shooting and wounding the peaceful local civilian, Zaza Gakheladze, who remains in illegal custody”, reads the statement.
The ministry says that violations of human rights and ethnic discrimination still remain a heavy humanitarian burden of the Russian illegal occupation. At the same time, the impunity of the cases of deprivation of lives of Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatunashvili further increases the threat of ethnically driven violence.
The ministry appeals to the international community to direct its consolidated efforts to ensure the de-occupation of Georgia’s territories and return all IDPs and refugees to their homes, and take effective steps to facilitate peace and security in Georgia and Eastern Europe.
MEPs Viola Von Cramon and Andrius Kubilius have responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, stating that ‘2008 events were preceded by Russia’s decades-long aggression and provocations’.
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Soreide has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, calling on Russia to comply with the 2008 ceasefire agreement and pull its forces out of Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that Russia must end its destabilisation actions in Georgia while speaking on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, referring to the occupation of 20 per cent of Georgian territories and the creeping occupation.The EU, UN, US and several top foreign officials have already responded to the anniversary of the war, condemning the occupation and calling upon Russia to withdraw its forces from historic Georgian lands.
The US Embassy to Georgia has responded to the 12th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, stating that ‘August 7 is a somber reminder of the thousands who have suffered and continue to suffer in the wake of Russia’s invasion.’
Georgian national flags were lowered to half mast on Saturday as government officials and Georgia's international partners marked 12 years since the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.
The US Department of State has called on Russia to withdraw its forces from the occupied regions of Georgia and fulfil obligations of the 2008 ceasefire agreement it signed to end the conflict.
The Group of Friends of Georgia in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has released a statement in which they call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions in Georgia.
Georgia has condemned the adoption of a plan to create a common socio-economic space between Russia and the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia which comes after the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and De-facto President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania on November 12.