Georgia marks 18th anniversary of 2008 War, urges Russia to end occupation

Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday marked the 18th anniversary of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war by reiterating its call on the Russian Federation to end the illegal occupation of Georgian territories and to fully comply with its international obligations.

In a statement released on the anniversary, the Ministry stressed that Russia continues to disregard the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and is expanding its control over the occupied regions through ongoing militarization and measures aimed at their de facto annexation.

“Eighteen years have passed since the full-scale military aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Georgia. In August 2008, disregarding the fundamental norms and principles of international law, Russia carried out the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region - inalienable parts of Georgia’s territory - and recognised their so-called independence.

Today, on the eighteenth anniversary of the occupation, Russia continues to defy the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement. Moreover, Russia is expanding its illegal control within the occupied regions, continuing their militarisation and actively taking steps towards their de facto annexation.

Through grave violations of human rights, ethnic discrimination against Georgians and the isolation of the population in Georgia’s occupied regions, Russia is severely worsening the security and humanitarian environment on the ground. Furthermore, the lack of access for international organisations to the occupied territories complicates a comprehensive assessment of the situation and ensuring the effective protection of human rights.

Through such actions, Russia flagrantly violates fundamental norms of international law, which is evidenced by numerous judgements adopted by international courts in recent years.
Georgia remains firmly committed to the policy of peaceful conflict resolution, the objectives of which are de-occupation, the strengthening of peace and the restoration of trust and relations between societies divided by the conflict. To achieve these goals, Georgia utilises diplomatic and legal mechanisms and actively cooperates with international partners.

Georgia attaches particular importance to the Geneva International Discussions as the primary international negotiation format addressing security, humanitarian and human rights issues in the Russia-Georgia conflict. Within the framework of the negotiations, Georgia clearly raises the issues of the implementation by Russia of the obligations assumed under the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees and the full-fledged functioning of international security mechanisms on the ground. For Georgia, the unconditional restoration and regular functioning of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali is also of high importance.

Georgia appreciates the unwavering support expressed by the international community for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the process of peaceful conflict resolution.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls upon the Russian Federation to cease the illegal occupation of Georgia’s territories and actions directed towards their de facto annexation, to fully implement the obligations assumed under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, to withdraw its military forces from the territory of Georgia and to ensure the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes.
Eighteen years on, Georgia’s goal of peace and unity remains unchanged. Georgia will continue its policy and efforts based on the principles of international law to ensure the peaceful restoration of the country’s territorial integrity, security and stable development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again pays tribute to the memory of the military servicemen and civilians who heroically lost their lives in the August 2008 war”, the statement said.