France, Germany, Italy, UK welcome Naoero’s decision to withdraw its recognition of so-called independence of Russian-occupied Abkhazia, South Ossetia regions

The Foreign Ministries of France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain on Friday issued a joint statement regarding the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, condemning Russia’s ongoing activities in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In a joint statement all four countries welcomed Naoero’s decision to withdraw its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, urging states that established diplomatic relations with these entities to follow this example.

“18 years after the Russian aggression, we reaffirm our full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We welcome Naoero's decision to withdraw its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We urge states that have established diplomatic relations with these entities to follow this example”, the statement said.

“We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s ongoing military presence in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of international law as well as Russia’s obligations under the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008. Russia’s ongoing militarization of Georgia’s occupied territories poses a serious threat to the security of Georgia and to regional and European stability”, the document continued.

Paris, Berlin, Rome and London also called on Russia to implement the 2025 rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which found Russia guilty of a number of violations committed in Georgia's occupied regions.

“In October 2025, the European Court of Human Rights found Russia guilty of a number of violations committed in the occupied breakaway regions, including excessive use of force, ill-treatment, unlawful detention and unlawful restrictions on day-to-day movement across the administrative boundary line between Georgian-controlled territory and Russian occupied territory. We urge Russia to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights relating to this situation and to fully fulfil the commitments it made on August 12 and September 8, 2008”, the statement noted.

“We are concerned about the latest developments in South Ossetia. The Agreement on Deepening Alliance and Cooperation signed on 9 May 2026 between Moscow and the de facto authorities of South Ossetia further violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in clear breach of international law. This document, as well as the appointment of a Russian citizen to head the region raise concerns on a possible full-fledged annexation of the region, which would not go unanswered”, the statement continued.

The Foreign Ministries of all four countries reaffirmed their support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) platform, co-chaired by the European Union, the OSCE, and the United Nations.

“This is the only framework that will enable the parties to work towards conflict resolution. We commend the work of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and we will continue to support the role of the mission”, the document concluded.