FM Botchorishvili addresses OSCE on Russia’s continued occupation of Georgian lands

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Thursday addressed participants of the 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, saying that twenty percent of Georgia’s sovereign territory remains occupied and that Russia continues its illegal military presence in the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.

Botchorishvili emphasised that Russia continued its illegal occupation of Georgia’s inseparable parts - the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali - in blatant violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law.

“Twenty percent of Georgia’s sovereign territory remains occupied, and Russia continues its illegal military presence in the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. The consequences of the occupation are severe: ethnic cleansing, gross violations of fundamental human rights, tragic cases of torture and killings, and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons who have been waiting for decades to return to their homes”, Botchorishvili said.

Foreign Minister highlighted Georgia’s policy of peacefully resolving its territorial integrity issues and, in this context, stressed the important role of the Geneva International Discussions, the significance of international community support, and the existence of monitoring mechanisms in the occupied territories.

“We express our gratitude to our partners for their unwavering support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is crucial that the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Georgia conflict remains a top priority on the agenda of the OSCE and other international organizations”, the FM said.

Botchorishvili also underscored the necessity of Russia’s compliance with the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement, mediated by the European Union.

She added that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has further heightened the threats Georgia faces, particularly given that the country was not protected by any collective security umbrella and that disinformation campaigns are being carried out against Georgia’s democratic institutions and processes.

“Georgia continues to strengthen stability by protecting its democratic institutions and enhancing resilience in response to hybrid threats, disinformation, and any attempts to undermine our sovereignty”, she said.

“Georgia remains committed to promoting peace and regional cooperation and is ready to work with all partners to uphold international law, protect sovereignty, and ensure long-term peace in the South Caucasus and OSCE region”, Botchorishvili continued.

She also highlighted that the historic peace agreement reached on August 8 in Washington between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a significant cornerstone for ensuring lasting peace in the South Caucasus and provides a solid foundation for long-term stability and new development opportunities in the region.

“Allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the historic Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, reached in Washington through the mediation of the United States President”, she noted.

Botchorishvili reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to the principles of the OSCE.