Georgia urges Russia to withdraw troops on 17th anniversary of war

The press service of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the information.

"17 years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia in August 2008, which resulted in the occupation of Georgia’s indivisible regions - Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. After 17 years Russia still refuses to implement the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and withdraw its occupation forces from the territory of Georgia; It continues to take steps aimed at integrating Georgia’s regions into Russia’s political, economic, military and social systems in violation of international norms. Particularly alarming are the numerous illegal actions recently carried out for this purpose," the statement reads.

It is noted that Russia also obstructs the access of international organizations to the affected areas and the functioning of international security mechanisms, as well as hinders the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that by such actions, Russia violates fundamental norms of international law—this is confirmed by numerous decisions of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) from 2021 to 2024. 

The Georgian MFA stressed that Tbilisi remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict, seeks to ensure de-occupation, peaceful reunification, and the development of the country through diplomatic and legal means in close cooperation with international partners, and that the Georgian government continues to take measures to promote reconciliation and restore trust between communities divided by the occupation line.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Russian Federation to revoke the illegal decision recognizing the so-called independence of the occupied regions, to respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to fulfill the obligations under the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, to withdraw its forces from Georgia’s territory and to cease obstructing the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes," the MFA added.