Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23.11.2016 Tbilisi -On 22 November 2016, the President of the Russian Federation signed the law on the ratification of the so-called “agreement” withSokhumi occupation regime onestablishment of Joint Group ofArmed Forces.

These kinds of provocative steps by the Russian Federation are directed towards the annexation of the occupied regions of Georgia, which is a complete disregard of the fundamental principles and norms of international law and undermines the established international order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns this illegal step by the Russian Federation, which represents a rude violation of the territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of the sovereign state, and a demonstration of aggression against Georgia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Russian Federation to honor the undertaken obligation​s and fully comply with the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement​, withdraw its military units from the occupied territories of Georgia and ensure the establishment of international security arrangements in the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on international community to give a due assessment to the aggressive moves of the Russian Federation and take effective measures to avoid further aggravation of the security situation in the region.

23 November, 2016

Other comments regarding this issue:


Comment by the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia


The ratification, on 2 November 2016, of the so-called agreement between the Russian Federation and Sokhumi occupation regime on the creation of “joint group of military forces”, adopted in November 2015, has been considered in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as yet another unlawful episode of factual annexation process of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Regions.
The creation of such formation was envisaged by so-called “treaty on alliance and strategic partnership”, signed in November 2014. The entire process vividly demonstrates that the Russian Federation pursues the policy of creeping annexation of Georgia’s occupied regions. This is in complete contravention to theestablishedinternational order and undermines fundamental principles of the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act, such as the inviolability of the internationally recognized borders and the respect of territorial integrity of a sovereign state.
By signing and ratifying the document a year later, Russia once again violated the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, which is all the more disturbing, given the absence of international mechanisms in the occupied regions and the continued refusal by the Russia Federation to take the non-use offorcepledge.
The creation of the so-called “joint group of armed forces” in Abkhazia, against the backdrop of continued military build-up and constant military drills in the occupied territories, further aggravates the already difficult security situation on the ground and significantly threatens the stability of the entire region.
The Government of Georgiawillconsolidateits diplomaticeffortsin responseto the provocative steps by the Russian Federation in all available international formats, be it bilateral relations with our partners or multilateral diplomacy, in order to ensure a proper assessment of Russia’s illegal actions and efficient measures by the international community for providing peace and security in the region.
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Statement of the Georgian Foreign Ministry

On 26 November 2015, the Russian Federation and the Sokhumi occupation regime concluded yet another document in the military sphere. In particular, the so-called “agreement” on the creation of the joint group of armed forces was signed.

Abkhazia is an integral part of Georgia and does not represent an independent subject of the international law, therefore, any attempt to sign an “agreement” with the region is a gross violation of the international law and constitutes an illegal action devoid of legal consequences.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry expresses its deep concern over the Russian Federation’s yet another provocative step, which, along with the other forms of militarisation of the occupied territories, endangers the security of Georgia and the region as a whole. Being an integral part of the “Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership” signed on 24 November 2014, the aforesaid “agreement” once again demonstrates that the Russian Federation, with complete disregard for the international obligations and fundamental principles of international law, continues the policy of creeping annexation of Georgia’s occupied territories thus violating Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Having signed this document, Russia, despite the Georgian Government's repeated calls, once again infringed the provisions of the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement that is of particular concern given the absence of international mechanisms in the occupied regions and Russia's persistent refusal to undertake the non-use of force pledge.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry calls on the international community to give due assessment to Russia's illegal step and to take appropriate measures in order to prevent a further escalation of the fragile security situation in the region.

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