Georgian, foreign officials, missions condemn Russia's military aggression, occupation on eve of 2008 war anniversary
Viola von Cramon, a German member of the European Parliament, has condemned Russia's "disinformation" against Georgia and the EU on Twitter. Photo: Heinrich Böll Stiftung/CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Georgian and foreign officials and diplomatic missions have issued condemnations of Russia's ongoing occupation of two of Georgia's regions and called on the Russian government to comply with the ceasefire agreement that ended the 2008 war between the two countries, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the conflict.
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani tweeted on Saturday, noting the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights that placed responsibility over violations committed during the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia on the Russian government.
Zalkaliani also called on Russia to fulfil clauses of the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement that ended the war but has not seen Russia withdraw its forces from the now-occupied territory of Georgia. The minister's tweet follows a statement by his ministry on Saturday that detailed violations on the Russian-controlled territory and asked the international community for "essential effort" for ending occupation.
2day marks 13th years since Russia's military aggression against #Georgia & #occupation of GeoReg's. Recently @ECHR_CEDH ruled its verdict on #RusGeoConflict &found RF exercising effective control responsible 4HR violations in #Aug2008War.
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) August 7, 2021
⚠️RUS must fulfil #CeasefireAgreement. pic.twitter.com/6fTU1lH4oi
Among Georgia's international partners and missions in the country, the European Union in Georgia representation condemned Russia's "recognition of and continued military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia" and noted the continued violation of human rights "of all conflict-affected communities".
These rights continue to be violated, including through so-called ’borderisation’ policies, closures of crossing points and illegal detentions. During these times of pandemic, such violations have taken an additional toll on civilians, especially those requiring urgent medical support, leading to more fatalities
- European Union in Georgia
Among comments from European officials and diplomats, Viola von Cramon, a member of the European Parliament and a former representative in the German federal parliament, said Russia was "now spreading anti-[Georgian] & anti-#EU disinformation" following the occupation, and reiterated the EU's support of Georgia for ending the occupation.
13y since #Russia's military aggression against #Georgia. 20% of ???????? is occupied. ???????? is now spreading anti-???????? & anti-#EU disinformation. ???????? is committed to sovereignty & territorial integrity of Georgia & stands with it's people until full #deoccupation#RusGeoConflict#Aug2008War pic.twitter.com/CoMzourZmh
— Viola von Cramon (@ViolavonCramon) August 7, 2021
In further support for Georgia's territorial integrity, the Latvian foreign ministry also posted on Twitter on the eve of the anniversary, calling on Russia to comply with articles of the ceasefire agreement signed in 2008.
13 yrs since Russia‘s aggression against #Georgia. #Russia continues to violate Georgia‘s sovereignty by occupying 20% of its territory. ???????? firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty & territorial integrity & calls on Russia to fully meet its obligations under 2008 ceasefire agreement
— Latvian MFA (@Latvian_MFA) August 7, 2021
Last month, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the occupation line separating the Russian-controlled territory from the rest of Georgia, with two United States senators also visiting the administrative boundary in June.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the occupation line between Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia and Georgia on the Enguri bridge today.
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Rob Portman, who arrived in Georgia late yesterday, visited the occupation line near the village of Zemo Nikozi earlier today which separates the country’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region from the rest of Georgia. The European Union Monitoring Mission accompanied the senators at the scene and briefed them about the situation on the ground.
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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has appealed for "essential effort" from the international community in the process of ending the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia, in a release on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the occupation.
The Georgian parliament has adopted a resolution on de-occupation and peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts to once again urge Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgian territory and request stronger support from the international community.
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.
Georgia is commemorating today a group of soldiers who lost their lives during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war in a battle in Shindisi village in central Georgia.On the day 13 years ago a 21-member detachment of Georgian soldiers came face-to-face with Russian soldiers in the village of Shindisi. The Russians greatly outnumbered the Georgian soldiers and ordered them to surrender, but they refused.