International reactions to 2008 war anniversary condemn Russia's actions, support Georgia's territorial integrity
Messages of condemnation for Russia's actions in the war and the ongoing occupation of Georgia's regions were shared by Georgia's international partners on Sunday, as Georgian officials and diplomatic corps in the country paid respects to the memory of those killed in the conflict. Photo via Parliament of Georgia.
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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.
As Georgian government members and the public marked the date with flags lowered at government offices and wreaths laid at the memorial to those who fell in the five-day conflict, the country also received messages of international solidarity.
13 years ago Russia invaded Georgia, which marked the start of a prolonged conflict w/Georgia. It also marked the start of Putin’s war on democracy. We will not forget Russia’s incursion & we stand by our Georgian partners in support of their sovereignty & territorial integrity.
— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) August 7, 2021
American senator and former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen said on Twitter the August 2008 war had kicked off Russia's "war on democracy", reiterating support for Georgia and its sovereignty in the message.
Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda stressed "[c]reeping occupation continues" along the occupation line in Georgia, while criticising "aggressive pattern" of the Russian government's behaviour.
13 years since Russia's war against Georgia. ???????? lost 20% of its territory.
— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) August 8, 2021
Creeping annexation continues. And we see the same aggressive pattern of Moscow's behavior, increasing in scope, intensity, geography & sophistication.
This must stop, we have heard enough wake-up calls. pic.twitter.com/14ZCerAiY8
Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister, joined the messages from Georgia's partners with her own tweet that said the purpose of the Russian government in 2008 had been to "derail #Georgia from the path of democratic development", and stressed the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
13 years ago Russia used force in Europe. The purpose was to derail #Georgia from the path of democratic development. ????????’s territorial integrity continues to be violated by ???????? to this day. We must continue pressure, never forget and not to recognize this occupation.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 8, 2021
Michael McFaul, the former special assistant to president Obama and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House, tweeted his view that Russia's president Vladimir Putin benefited from the occupation of Georgian territory being left outside of conversations in international circles.
Putin takes great pleasure in knowing that most of the world has forgotten about his occupation of Georgian territory. He's hoping the same regarding his annexation of Ukraine territory.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 8, 2021
In another view from the United States, the Atlantic Council think-tank's Daniel Fried shared an article co-authored for the website of the organisation and detailing "recollections and assessments" of the war and its implications.
Today is the 13th Anniversary of Putin's attack on Georgia. My colleagues and I offer recollections and assessments. This was not the last Kremlin-launched war against its neighbors. @ACEurasia https://t.co/lKOugrppDW
— Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) August 7, 2021
Czech Republic's MFA also voiced a criticism of Russia's action in Georgia, taking a moment to remember "all the lives lost as well as the plight of war refugees" that followed the war.
Today is the 13th anniversary of the Georgian-Russian conflict. Since then Russia has occupied part of the Georgian territory. We remember all the lives lost as well as the plight of war refugees. ???????? supports a peaceful resolution of the conflict and territorial integrity of ????????
— Czech MFA (@CzechMFA) August 8, 2021
In reactions from the South Caucasus region, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry shared its own tweet of support for "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Georgia" and stressing the "strategic partnership" between the two countries.
#Azerbaijan supports independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. ???????????????? enjoy strategic partnership based on the respect and adherence to fundamental principles of international law.@MFAgovge
— MFA Azerbaijan ???????? (@AzerbaijanMFA) August 8, 2021
The reactions join messages from Saturday, when officials and diplomats shared statements calling on Russia to adhere to the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement and condemning human rights violations on the occupied territories.
These included the statement from the European Union delegation in Georgia, later also shared by Gesa Braeutigam, the German ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Today marks the 13th anniversary of the conflict between Russia ????????and Georgia ????????.
— Gesa Braeutigam (@GbGesa) August 7, 2021
Germany ???????? firmly supports the independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
????????????
EU statement: https://t.co/rFGNbkntZ7 pic.twitter.com/47aYzqhjje
Also on Saturday, Sweden's foreign minister Ann Linde reiterated her country's support for Georgia in its territorial integrity, and urged use of the Geneva International Discussions for finding "constructive ways forward".
13 years today since the war between Russia and Georgia. Sweden supports Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urges all sides to find constructive ways forward in the Geneva International Discussions.
— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) August 7, 2021
Sunday marks the 13th anniversary of the five-day war that saw 170 servicemembers and professionals of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia killed along with 14 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 224 civilians. Around 30,000 citizens of Georgia were forced to abandon their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.