Group of Friends of Georgia in the OSCE confirms its support for the country

The Group of Friends of Georgia in the OSCE Permanent Council, which includes Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States, in a joint statement released On September 2, in connection with the 14th anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war, she once again expressed her full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

In a statement, the Group of Friends stressed that, fourteen years after Russia’s invasion of Georgia, they remain “deeply concerned about the ongoing occupation of part of Georgia’s territory and emphasize the need for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on full respect for international law and obligations.”

The statement condemns Russia’s 2008 aggression against Georgia and expresses “deep concern” about Russian military exercises and military presence in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. In this context, they also condemned Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.

The Group also draws attention to the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and calls on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the agreement by returning to pre-conflict positions, allowing unhindered access of humanitarian aid to the occupied regions, and establishing interstate security mechanisms on the ground.

The group of friends also calls on Russia to withdraw recognition of the so-called. independence of the occupied regions of Georgia.

In the context of Russia’s occupation of the territories of Georgia, the group condemns Russia’s steps to unilaterally establish a Russian-Georgian border in the occupied territories of Georgia, as well as to annex part of the Georgian village of Aibga to the Krasnodar Territory.

The statement also expresses concern about the transfer of part of the resort of Bichvinta (Pitsunda) to Russia, which, in their opinion, is another step towards annexation. They called on Russia to cancel this process.

The statement also focuses on the Strasbourg court’s decision in the war case in August 2008 and the issuance of three war crimes arrest warrants by the Hague court in 2008.

Speaking of ethnic Georgians living in the occupied regions, the Group of Friends stated that they remain concerned about continued discrimination and restrictions on their rights related to freedom of movement, education, housing and property rights, in particular the demolition of the homes of internally displaced persons.

In this context, they expressed dissatisfaction with the replacement of their native Georgian with Russian in the schools of the Gali district of occupied Abkhazia, populated by ethnic Georgians. “We also condemn the removal and replacement of Georgian symbols from Georgian cultural heritage sites in both (occupied) regions,” they added.

The Group of Friends stated that they were very concerned about the arbitrary detentions along the line of occupation. The group condemned the killings of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Gigi Otkhozoria and David Basharuli and called on Russia to remove all obstacles to the implementation of the law against the perpetrators.

The Group expresses its support for the formats of the Geneva International Discussions, as well as the mechanisms for preventing and responding to incidents in Ergneti and Gali, and reaffirms its unwavering support for the EU Monitoring Mission.

They welcome the start of a multifaceted process by the Government of Georgia to develop a State Strategy for the Peaceful Settlement of Conflicts and expressed support for the Georgian Peace Initiative – “Step to a Better Future”.

The Group of Friends deplored the closure of the OSCE Mission to Georgia in 2009 and called on OSCE participating States to decide to reopen the OSCE multidisciplinary mission in Georgia.

They also noted that they will continue to raise awareness of the conflict and current events, and work to hold Russia accountable.