By HE Konstantine Surguladze, Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
82 years old David Vanishvili, went to sleep in his house in Georgia, just to find himself the next morning in the so called “South Ossetia”, occupied part of Georgia, with his house being separated from his farmland by the barbwire fence, marking the so-called “border” between Georgia and the occupied region.
On the 7th anniversary of the Russia-Georgian 2008 August 5 days war, despite the EU-brokered six-point Ceasefire agreement between Georgia and the Russian Federation, the latter remains in full disregard of its obligation under this agreement. Russia blatantly violated the ceasefire agreement and recognized two regions of Georgia, Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states; instead of withdrawing its forces to their pre-war positions, the RF has reinforced its military bases in these regions, built on places of annihilated Georgian villages, inhabitants of which, up to 140 000 ethnic Georgians where forcefully driven from their homes, whereby they joined already existing IDPs; 20% of the Georgian territory continues to be occupied by Russian occupying forces.
The political support Georgia received from international community, appeared, as time has shown, as non sufficient to stop Russia’s further aggressive steps, since Russia perceived it as a “soft persuasion” and a signal that revision on the “results of the cold war” was still possible, notwithstanding the drastic violation principles of inviolability of borders, hence the fundamental principles of International Law. So it seemed to be a good start for new endeavor-challenging Ukraine.
Current developments in Ukraine are simply reinstallation of the approaches firstly tested by Russia in Georgia, just on the smaller scale.
What we are witnessing today are merely steps undertaken by Russia towards “creeping occupation and annexation”. Let me shortly outline the facts: Barbwire fences are being installed along the occupation line in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, which further intrude into the territory controlled by the Central Government of Georgia, leaving behind the houses and farmland of the local population; also, banners are being installed, marking the so-called “state border” along the occupation line, the most recent installation took place just over two months ago, whereby a considerable segment of the Strategic Baku-Supsa Oil Pipeline, has fallen under the control of the Russian occupation force. Moreover, Russia signed the so-called “treaty on alliance and strategic partnership” with its occupation regime in Sokhumi and similar “treaty on alliance and integration” with the Tskhinvali occupation regime, whereby both documents are directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and constitute the factual annexation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, as provide for their full integration into social, economic, administrative institutions and – most importantly – military and security space of Russia.
The process is significantly affecting everyday life of the local population, both in the occupied regions, as well as in the adjacent areas. The local population is forcefully deterred from the access to their agricultural lands, potable and irrigation water systems. Residents are prevented from acceding to the local cemeteries and reaching emergency medical services. Moreover, some of them were compelled to leave their places of residence left behind the occupation line, thus creating a new generation of IDPs. The situation inside Georgia’s occupied regions raises particular concern given that no international monitoring mechanisms operate therein since the mandates of the UN and OSCE Monitoring Missions were vetoed by the RF back in 2009. As for the EU Monitoring Mission, deployed in Georgia immediately after the War, it is still denied access to the occupied territories.
These developments are a part of Russia’s purposeful policy provoking Georgia and further threatening already fragile peace and security on the ground, region and beyond and are well inscribed in the broader neighboring political agenda of Russia – undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors with clear European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
There is only one coherent response from Georgia, – strengthening its grip on democracy, rule of law and promotion of other benefits of the democratic state along with its other undertakings, including the unilateral legally-binding non-use of force pledge vis-à-vis Russia.
At the same time, on the part of the international community, vital is on the one hand, the genuine assessment – adequate to the wider challenges Russia represents today – of these developments and on the other, its active inclusion in Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration process,- our irreversible choice, which will certainly serve as a protective shield against Russia’s policy of sphere of influence domination.
