11 YEARS – since Russia’s military aggression and occupation of Georgian territories

11 years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia, which was followed by illegal occupation of Georgia’s historical regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation. With this step Moscow attempted to establish a so-called “new reality” blatantly violating fundamental norms and principles of international law and undermining the rules-based international order with little concern for the position of the rest of the international community.

Russian military invasion into Georgia was premeditated and thoroughly calculated long before the actual war. Russian President himself did not try to hide the fact: “The general staff drew up this plan somewhere in late 2006 or early 2007. I approved it.” The provocations started in first days of August 2008 with massive attacks on Georgian controlled villages by Russian-backed Ossetian volunteers, which preceded by the units of Russia’s 58th Army crossing the state border of Georgia through the Roki Tunnel on 7 August 2008. With an artificial pretext of protecting the Russian “citizens” on Georgian soil (i.e. the residents of Georgia who became victims of Russia’s illegal passportization), Moscow started a large-scale attack against the sovereign country on land, at sea, by air, and via cyberspace.

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Despite the challenging aftermath of August 2008 war, Georgia has managed to succeed in its democratic transition and economic development, and further advanced on its irreversible path towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Against all odds, Georgia has successfully implemented the comprehensive reforms, and achieved significant progress in good governance, rule of law, human rights and free business environment, taking one of the leading positions in Eastern European region.

At the same time, Georgia has continued its unwavering stance to peace and security, and this commitment has been vividly demonstrated by specific steps in the process of peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict. Remaining in full compliance with the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, Georgia has many times reaffirmed the non-use of force pledge and has

been firmly observing this international principle vis-à-vis Russia, still awaiting the reciprocity.

Georgia spares no effort to reach tangible

results in the Geneva International Discussions, and continues constructive participation in the negotiations to address security and humanitarian challenges stemming from the unresolved conflict between Russia and Georgia. Unfortunately, the format is largely handicapped as a result of Moscow’s deliberate attempts to politicize humanitarian issues and undermine peace negotiations.  This  is  the  very reason why there have

been no major breakthroughs for the past 11 years, and progress has not been made on either the implementation of ceasefire provisions or the safe and dignified return of hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees, expelled as a result of multiple waves of ethnic cleansing in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. The deteriorating security, humanitarian and human rights situation on the ground clearly demonstrates the crucial importance

 

to utilize effectively the Geneva format, as peace negotiations have no alternative to avoid the escalation and succeed in the conflict resolution process.

In addition to result-oriented and constructive participation in the negotiation formats, Georgia has been active in its policy of reconciliation and confidence building between the communities divided by occupation line. The recent peace initiative “A Step to a Better Future” aims to further enhance engagement between the divided societies and improve the humanitarian, social, and economic conditions of conflict-affected people in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. The peace initiative facilitates people-to-people interaction and gives the opportunity to the conflict-affected people to have access to all the benefits that the rest of the population of Georgia enjoys as a result of Georgia’s democratic and economic development and its path towards European integration.

Despite the above difficult background – Georgia being constantly targeted through Russia’s daily provocative steps and the array of hybrid tools – the Government of Georgia will continue trying to find ways for dialogue with Russia. The Georgian side believes that de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the Russia

– Georgia conflict is necessary. Thus, the Government of Georgia is truly interested in constructive peace negotiations and dialogue with the Russian Federation. However, de-escalation and conflict resolution can only take place on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law, and first and foremost, the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.

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Throughout more than a decade Georgia and international community have spared no effort to ensure lasting peace and security in Georgia. Nevertheless, it has

been 11 years of constant pressure and violence for the people living in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia ¾ the regions, which remain highly militarized with Russia’s two full- fledged military bases, over 10.000 Russian troops and sophisticated offensive armament.

Russia’s illegal military presence on the Georgian soil and regular military drills continue being the source for destabilization of already extremely fragile security environment in the wider region. Russia’s continuous

violation of the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement seriously undermines human security of conflict-affected population on the ground and impedes peaceful conflict resolution efforts of the entire international community.

The situation is further aggravated through Russia’s ongoing steps towards de-facto annexation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. Throughout these 11 years, two inalienable Georgian regions were being gradually swallowed into Russia’s military, political, economic, social and legal framework, and thus the difference between them and Russia’s autonomous republics of northern Caucasus is disappearing daily.

One of the most substantial negative side effects of this illegal process has been extreme deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation

on the ground. The practice of installation of barbwire fences and multiple artificial obstacles in the heart of Georgian soil as well as regular closure of so-called crossing points extremely aggravates the security conditions on the ground and constitutes a blatant violation of freedom

 

of movement of the local population.

The severity of the situation is not limited to the restriction of free movement only. The violations are rather multi-layered including but not limited to ethnic discrimination and violence against ethnic Georgians, restrictions to the right of education in native

language, right to property and even the right of life. After the killings of David Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatuanshvili by representatives of the occupation regimes, another Georgian IDP Irakli Kvaratskhelia, who died while being in illegal detention

at the Russian Military base in Abkhazia region, became yet another victim of the ongoing occupation by Russia. Since torture, murder and other types of crimes against ethnic Georgians have become a commonplace and no single person was held accountable for it, the Government of Georgia came up with the “Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List” in order to prevent further violations and grave human rights abuses on the ground. Through imposition of international restrictive measures against the individuals in the List, Georgia aims to end impunity and eradicate ethnic violence of conflict-affected people.

The situation is particularly alarming given the fact that the international human rights mechanisms are not allowed to enter the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. Even the EU Monitoring Mission – the only international mechanism on the ground right now – is deprived of access into the occupied territories and exercising its mandate on the whole territory of Georgia.

In parallel, Moscow continues utilizing multiple hybrid tools in order to undermine Georgia’s democratic and economic development, and derail the country from its chosen path to the European family. Since the very beginning of the 1990s Georgia has faced the attempts of falsifying the history and establishing a false narrative about the so-called “new realities”. It is crystal clear that promoting the false historical narratives is another vain attempt to justify the

process of illegal occupation and de-facto annexation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and undermine the peaceful conflict resolution process.

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All this is not the struggle that is going to determine the fate of Georgia only. Georgia cannot and should not fight alone as it concerns not one country only but the European continent as a whole. Unless Russia is contained the similar scenario is bound to be repeated elsewhere with more determination and even more aggressively, as the example of Ukraine proved.

Throughout these 11 years of illegal occupation, Georgia has felt the tremendous support of its partner countries and international organizations. However, facing the use of full array of hybrid as well as conventional tools by

the Russian Federation that challenges not only the physical existence of its neighbours but the values and universal principles, the international community needs to stay firm and consistent in defending the rules- based order and value-driven policies in order to stay ahead of the curve. We should stay united to achieve lasting peace and security in Georgia based on fundamental principles and norms of international law and seek that the human rights of people are no longer abused in these inalienable parts of Georgia.