US ambassador on Russia's offer to restore ties with Georgia: Russia must withdraw forces first
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan notes that it is not the first time Russia has offered to restore relations with Georgia. Photo: EUMM press office.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has stated that Russia must first withdraw its forces from Georgian territory if it wants to restore relations with Georgia.
Ambassador Degnan said that it is not the first time Georgians have heard this kind of message from Russia before.
…[withdrawing] from Georgian territory … would be a real sign that Russia is serious and not just putting out more disinformation. It is very important for Georgians to see Russia withdraw from the occupied territories, reverse its recognition of Tskhinvali and Abkhazia, and immediately open up access to humanitarian corridors,” Ambassador Degnan said earlier today, during the closing ceremony of the Agile Spirit exercise.
Ambassador Kelly Degnan’s Remarks to Media at the Concluding Ceremony of Agile Spirit 2021 https://t.co/MAzPlJPYwA
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) August 6, 2021
At a press briefing yesterday Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry Information and Press Department Alexander Bikantov said that ‘Russia is ready to restore relations with Georgia ‘to the extent Georgia is ready for this,’ expressing hope that ‘common sense will prevail in Tbilisi’ and that it would start ‘developing relations’ with its currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions ‘as independent states.’
The United States Mission to the OSCE has stated that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case ‘adds further weight to the international community’s demand that Russia cease its blatant violations of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’.
Russia says it is ready to restore relations with Georgia ‘to the extent Georgia is ready for this,’ expressing hope that ‘common sense will prevail in Tbilisi’ and it will start developing relations with its currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions ‘as independent states.’
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that the recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case ‘is of great legal and historic importance for Georgia,’ and that the judgement is likely to have an impact of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of the war.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has responded to Georgia’s recent victory in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Georgian officials, state institutions and the wider society are marking 13 years since the 2008 war that left tens of thousands displaced from their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, while over 400 citizens of the country were killed.
Politicians, ambassadors and ministries of Georgia's international partner states have marked the 13th anniversary of the 2008 war with messages condemning Russia's ongoing occupation of two of Georgia's regions and reiterating support for the territorial integrity of the country.
An American Cultural Center (ACC) has opened in Tbilisi earlier today. US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan attended the opening ceremony at which she stated that ‘this is a fantastic new initiative’ for a strong partnership between the two countries. The ACC will focus on the arts, culture and education-related projects and will ‘promote cultural links between the US and Georgia.’