The UN Security Council convened in a closed session in connection with the 17th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war to address the ongoing situation in Georgia’s occupied territories and the broader conflict.

According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Miroslav Jenča, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, delivered a report during the meeting, providing the Council members with updated insights into the current on-the-ground situation and the progress of international negotiations in Geneva.

Following the session, representatives from Security Council member states, the United Kingdom, France, Slovenia, Denmark, and Greece, along with Latvia, a future member of the Council, issued a joint statement to the media.

In their statement, they acknowledged that 17 years have passed since Russia’s aggression against Georgia and the subsequent illegal military presence in the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. They highlighted that Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August 2008 marked the start of an increasingly confrontational and aggressive policy towards its neighbours. This pattern continues today, exemplified by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

The statement reaffirmed strong support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. It condemned Russia’s brutal invasion and the ongoing illegal military presence in Georgia, which violates the UN Charter, as well as the measures taken to exert control over and annexe the two regions.

Deep concern was expressed over Russia’s failure to implement the ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union on August 12, 2008. The agreement’s obligations, including the withdrawal of Russian forces to pre-conflict positions and ensuring unhindered access for international human rights monitoring mechanisms such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, remain unfulfilled.

The statement emphasised that the countries remain committed to the Geneva International Discussions (GID) process,” the statement by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads.