Official Tbilisi Calls On Russia To Cease Its Support Of Separatists

The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia reads that at the time when the Georgian Authorities achieved stabilization of the situation in Upper Abkhazia, established law and order, are carrying out extensive works for the restoration of infrastructure in the region and measures aimed at upgrading living conditions of the local population, the separatist government launched another in a series of large-scale military exercises.

Up to 6 thousand armed men are put on alert and large amount of military equipment – mobilized. Besides, separatist leaders continue to voice their aggressive intentions to ‘restore control over the upper part of the Kodori Gorge’.

The separatist regimes’ illegal armed formations get their supply of arms and military equipment from the Russian Federation while the guidance over their training, exercises and logistical support is an immediate task of the officers of the Russian armed forces.

It is noteworthy that the abovementioned exercises are held against the background of unprecedented number of violations of Georgian airspace by Russian military aircraft and missile attackof the Georgian territory, as well as regular military trainings conducted by the Russian armed forces in the North Caucasus.

The situation is highly alarming that may lead to destabilization not only in Georgia but in the Caucasus region as a whole.

In connection with this fact, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili addressed a letter to his colleagues, foreign Ministers of the UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends providing them with updated information and urging them to adopt an active position on the exisitng situation.

The Georgian sidecalls on the Russian Federation to cease its support of the separatist regime, including military assistance, and actions uncoordinated with the Georgian Authorities in the conflict zones and undertake its functions as an unbiased mediator that will prevent dangerous development of events.

Georgia considers that the UN Secretary General’s Group of Friends should adopt a more principal position while assessing the acts of the separatist regime and also demand from the Russian Federation as a member of this Group, to end its destructive acts against Georgia.

The Georgian side expresses its readiness to continue cooperation with all the parties concerned to achieve full-scale peaceful resolution of the conflicts, provided that Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be fully respected.

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