Op-ed by Ambassador Irakli Kurashvili
16 years have passed since Russia’s full-fledged military aggression against Georgia in 2008. 16 years ago, Russia’s military forces invaded Georgia and started an unprovoked, unjustified and premeditated military aggression against the sovereign country. The war ended up with the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.
During the war, dozens of cities throughout Georgia were bombed, and over fifty Georgian villages around Tskhinvali were fully burnt. The human toll of the Russian invasion was no less devastating, taking hundreds of lives – mostly of peaceful civilians – and leading to another wave of forcible displacement of ethnic Georgians. This brought the total number of IDPs and refugees expelled from their homes since the early 1990s due to ethnic cleansing to half a million.
After 16 years, the Russian Federation continues the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions that are indivisible regions of Georgia ignoring the fundamental norms and principles of international law. The Russian Federation does not fulfill the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and continues its illegal military build-up in Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions; its two military bases are unlawfully stationed in both occupied regions of Georgia; Russian military and security forces regularly conduct the military exercises therein; the killing of Georgian civilians, illegal detentions, ethnic discrimination against Georgians, and other destructive actions by Russia aggravates the already dire security, human rights and humanitarian environment on the ground.
In parallel Russia expands its illegal control in the occupied territories and takes steps towards incorporation of Georgia's indivisible regions into its own political, military, economic, and social systems. Russia’s occupation and effective control of Georgia’s regions have been confirmed by several decisions of international courts, which establish Russia’s responsibility for grave human rights violations on the ground.
Georgia unequivocally pursues the policy of peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict and is determined to use diplomatic and legal instruments and continue close cooperation with its international partners to ensure the de-occupation and peaceful development of the country. Here, I would like to extend my warmest thanks and appreciation to Latvia for its steadfast and continuous support to Georgia. Georgia continues to be constructively engaged in the Geneva International Discussions, which is the only format addressing the issue of the implementation of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and return of IDPs and refugees to their homes of origin. The Georgian Government takes steps to facilitate reconciliation and confidence building between communities divided by the occupation line and to build a common European future.
On behalf of my government, I would like to call on the Russian Federation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, to fulfill the obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and to withdraw its forces from the territory of Georgia.
For Latvian follow the link: https://www.delfi.lv/898102/versijas/120037961/gruzijas-vestnieks-latvija-16-gadi-kops-krievijas-iebrukuma-gruzija
