Georgian President's Statement on Russian Action

Here is the written statement by the president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, concerning Russia’s recognition of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent of Georgia, as released in English by his office on Tuesday...

The Russian Federation’s actions are an attempt to militarily annex a sovereign state — the nation of Georgia. This is in direct violation of international law and imperils the international security framework that has ensured peace, stability and order for the past 60 years.

Russia’s decision today confirms that its invasion of Georgia was part of a broader, premeditated plan to redraw the map of Europe. Russia today has violated all treaties and agreements it has previously signed.

Russia’s actions have been condemned in the strongest possible terms by the entire international community, which has reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. The Government of Georgia is grateful for the world’s support.

The regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are recognized by international law as being within the borders of Georgia.

Today, by its actions, the Russian Federation is seeking to validate the use of violence, direct military aggression, and ethnic cleansing to forcibly change the borders of a neighboring state.

Russia’s refusal to withdraw its military forces from Georgia — and its attempt to annex two regions of Georgia — is in direct violation of the E.U.-brokered cease fire to end Russia’s invasion and occupation of Georgia.

The two regions in question have been de-populated by conflict and continue to be subject to widespread ethnic cleansing by Russia and its proxies — as confirmed by the United Nations and other international bodies.

These are areas where the local populations — simply because of their nationality — have been chased out, with the direct intervention of the Russian Federation.

The few civilians who remain in these regions have been given Russian passports en masse, in violation of international law and norms, making a mockery of the principle of “right to protect.”

One such expulsion took place in 1993 in Abkhazia. Others took place last week in South Ossetia and in Upper Abkhazia/the Kodori Gorge.

I remind you that before the first conflict, more than 525,000 people lived in Abkhazia. Today less than 150,000 do.

I remind you that ethnic Georgians in South Ossetia have been systematically forced to flee that territory due to Russia’s invasion. The attacks on ethnic Georgians, both inside and outside the conflict zones, are continuing.

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