This declaration is made on behalf of Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States of America surrendered.
We reiterate our full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
Fourteen years after the military invasion of Georgia by the Russian Federation, we remain deeply concerned about the continued occupation of parts of the territory of Georgia and underscore the need for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on full respect for international law and obligations, including the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
We condemn Russia’s aggression against Georgia in 2008 and express our deep concern at Russia’s military exercises and continued military presence in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We also reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
We welcome Georgia’s compliance with the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008. We call on Russia to immediately comply with its clear obligation under the ceasefire agreement to withdraw its armed forces to pre-conflict positions, as well as its obligations to allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and not to impede the establishment of international security arrangements on Russia’s soil. We call on Russia to revoke its recognition of the so-called independence of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
We condemn the steps taken by Russia, apparently aimed at establishing the Georgian-Russian state border on parts of the occupied territories and incorporating part of the village of Aibgha in Georgia into Krasnodar Territory. Likewise, we express our concern about Russia’s attempted confiscation of 180 hectares of land in the Gagra district of Abkhazia, Georgia, which is another step towards an attempted annexation. We call on Russia to reverse this process.
We note the January 2021 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia in August 2008 and its consequences, including its findings that Russia exercised effective control over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, also through its military presence. The court also ruled that Russia tortured Georgian prisoners of war in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights; arbitrarily detained and killed Georgian civilians and responsible for their inhuman and degrading treatment; prevented ethnic Georgians from returning to their homes; and failed to conduct investigations into killings of civilians. We call on Russia to fully comply with the ruling, including by allowing internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their homes in safety and dignity. We also note the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) of June 30, 2022, issuing arrest warrant requests for war crimes committed during the Russian invasion in 2008. We urge Russia to cooperate with the ICC Prosecutor’s Office.
We are concerned about the ongoing discrimination against Georgians based on their ethnicity in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and abuses, including severe restrictions on rights related to movement, education, residence and property rights, particularly related to the destruction of the homes of internally displaced persons. We call on those responsible to allow international human rights organizations full and unimpeded access to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We condemn the decision to replace Georgian language teaching with Russian in schools in the ethnic Georgian-inhabited Gali district of Abkhazia region. We also condemn the erasure and alteration of Georgian features in the monuments of Georgian cultural heritage in both regions.
We are particularly concerned about the ongoing erection of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers along the Administrative Border Lines (ABLs) of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Isolation and continued restrictions on movement have destabilized the situation on the ground, severely impacting the safety, welfare and humanitarian conditions of civilians in conflict zones, particularly in Akhalgori district, where local people are reportedly suffering from shortages of medicines and food and suffering from it denied access to pensions and essential services, including free health services, available in the areas controlled by the Georgian government. As a result, there is a risk of further depopulation in the Akhalgori district.
We remain deeply concerned at the ongoing arbitrary detentions surrounding the ABLs and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Irakli Bebua, Kristine Takalandze and all those who are being arbitrarily detained.
We condemn the killings of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and Davit Basharuli and urge Russia to remove all obstacles to bringing the perpetrators to justice. In this regard, we reiterate our support for Georgia’s pre-emptive steps to eliminate impunity and take note of the Otchozoria Tatunashvili List adopted by the Government of Georgia.
We support the effective continuation of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) as the only format with the Russian Federation to implement the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of the 12 unresolved Russia-Georgia conflict. We underscore the need for progress on key issues of the discussions, including non-use of force, establishment of international security arrangements in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia, and ensuring the safe, dignified and voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees in accordance with international law. We strongly support the use of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the GID to enable inclusive and sustainable peace and security on the ground.
We express our support for the Ergneti and Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs) and emphasize the important role they can play in preventing the escalation of the conflict and in protecting the security of the people on the ground. We express our grave concern at the protracted suspension of the Gali IPRM and urge its resumption without further delay or preconditions in accordance with the Ground Rules.
We reiterate our unwavering support for the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and call on Russia to allow the EUMM to fully implement its mandate, including allowing EUMM access to both sides of the ABLs.
We welcome the launch by the Government of Georgia of a multi-stakeholder process to develop a comprehensive “State Strategy for Dispossession and Peaceful Conflict Resolution” and the launch of the Strategic Review of Reconciliation and Engagement Policy. We support the Georgian government’s peace initiative “A Step Towards a Better Future”, which aims to improve the humanitarian and socio-economic conditions of the people in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and promote trust-building between divided communities. We urge and stand ready to support active work on reconciliation and engagement programs.
We encourage the OSCE’s engagement in the process of finding a peaceful solution to the Russia-Georgia conflict. We regret the closure of the OSCE Mission to Georgia in 2009 and encourage OSCE participating States to decide on the reopening of the OSCE Cross-Dimensional Mission to Georgia, including a monitoring capacity capable of operating unhindered in all ABLs. The reopening of the Mission would significantly strengthen the OSCE’s engagement in the GID and IPRM. In addition, the reinstatement of a field mission would support the work of the OSCE at every stage of the conflict cycle.
The Group of Friends of Georgia will continue to raise awareness of the conflict and developments on the ground, hold Russia accountable for its commitments and commitments, and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
