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.
We condemn Russia’s aggression against Georgia in 2008 and express our deep concern at the ongoing Russian military occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We also reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
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 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 Armistice Agreement to withdraw its armed forces to pre-war positions, as well as its obligation to allow unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and not to impede the establishment of international security agreements on the ground. 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 actions of 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 at the confiscation by Russia of 180 hectares of land in the Gagra district of Abkhazia, Georgia. We are also dealing with ongoing activities within the framework of the implementation of the so-called “program” to create a common socio-economic space between the Russian Federation and the Abkhazia region of Georgia, as well as the so-called dual citizenship agreement with the South Ossetia region of Georgia as a further step towards an attempted illegal annexation. We call on Russia to reverse this process. We condemn the holding of so-called parliamentary elections in the Abkhazia region and so-called presidential elections in South Ossetia in 2022 as a blatant violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.
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 June 2022 decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for alleged war crimes committed during the Russian invasion in 2008. We urge Russia to cooperate with the ICC.
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 people. 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 the teaching of the Georgian language with Russian in the schools of the ethnic Georgian-populated Gali and Akhalgori districts in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia, respectively. We also condemn the erasure and alteration of Georgian elements in the monuments of Georgian cultural heritage in both regions.
We are particularly concerned about the continued erection of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers along the occupation line and the closure of so-called ABL crossing points in the South Ossetia region of Georgia for over 3 years. The partial and temporary reopening of the so-called ABL crossing points along South Ossetia at Odzisi and Karzmani cannot be considered satisfactory. All border crossings to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia must be reopened to all Georgian citizens living on both sides of the dividing lines.
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 and all those arbitrarily detained. We condemn the arrests of Kristine Takalandze, Asmat Tavadze, Mamuka Chkhikvadze and Kakhaber Natadze.
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 Geneva International Discussions (GID) as an existing format with the Russian Federation to promote the fulfillment of the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of the 12th 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 Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs) in Ergneti and Gali and emphasize that the six meetings in 2022 took place in Ergneti. The IPRMs can play an important role in preventing the escalation of conflict and in protecting the safety and security of 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 government of Georgia’s multi-stakeholder process to develop a comprehensive “State Strategy for Dispossession and Peaceful Conflict Resolution” and the strategic review of the 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 that the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Georgia was suspended in 2009 due to Russia’s refusal to join the consensus. We encourage OSCE participating States to decide on the reopening of the OSCE Cross-Dimensional Mission to Georgia, including with a monitoring capability that would allow the Mission to operate across the ABLs without restrictions. 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.
