Georgian Foreign Ministry [MFA] highlighted the continued Russian occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions on the 16th anniversary of its 2008 invasion of Georgia.

As the agency adds, Russia continued to occupy these regions in violation of the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, brokered by the European Union, and in “complete disregard of the fundamental norms of international law”.

“In 2024, 16 years will have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia. Even after 16 years, the Russian Federation continues to occupy Georgia’s indivisible regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, in violation of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union on August 12, 2008, and in complete disregard of fundamental international law norms, as evidenced by numerous decisions of the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights between 2021-24.

Russian military bases [are] illegally located in the occupied regions of Georgia; military exercises [are] regularly conducted by the occupying forces; artificially erected barriers [are present] on the occupation line; killings of Georgian civilians, illegal detentions, ethnic discrimination of Georgians and other destructive actions carried out by Russia further worsen the fragile security and humanitarian environment in the occupied regions. Additionally, Russia continues to obstruct the unrestricted access of international organizations and the deployment of international security mechanisms.

Through creating a common social and economic space, holding illegal elections in the occupied territories, reshaping settlements and strategic objects, and various types of integration with the occupation regimes through agreements and memoranda, Russia aims to integrate the indivisible regions of Georgia into the political, military, economic, and social systems of Russia and promotes the isolation of the population living in the occupied territories from the rest of Georgia and the international community.

Georgia continues to implement the policy of peaceful resolution of the Russian-Georgian conflict and aims to ensure de-occupation, peaceful settlement and development of the country by using diplomatic and legal instruments, in close cooperation with international partners. Georgia continues its constructive involvement in the Geneva International Discussions, whose main goal is to resolve issues related to the implementation of the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, and the return of internally displaced persons and refugees. The Government of Georgia is taking steps to ensure reconciliation and restore trust between societies divided by occupation lines and to build a common European future.

The MFA emphasizes the unwavering and unconditional support of the international community for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and expresses gratitude for the support of international partners in the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

The MFA calls on the Russian Federation to respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, fulfil its obligations under the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union, withdraw its forces from Georgian territory, cease gross human rights violations in the occupied regions, and allow the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes.

The MFA expresses condolences and honours the families and relatives of the fighters and civilians who heroically died in the 2008 war”, - reads the statement.