The members of the UN Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

A group of member states, including France, Japan, Slovenia, Great Britain, the USA, Malta, and future Security Council members Greece and Denmark, deliver a statement on the situation in Georgia at the Security Council Stakeout, on the anniversary of the 2008 Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia.

“Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August 2008 marks a more aggressive trend in Russian policy regarding its neighbouring countries and the European security architecture. As we are witnessing today, with the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued down this path. We are resolute in our reaffirmation of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We deplore the continued violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity by the Russian Federation. We condemn Russia’s brutal invasion, continued illegal military presence in controversy of the UN Charter and exercising of effective control of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali-South Ossetia regions. These regions are integral parts of Georgia. Russia’s steps towards the annexation of Georgia’s regions through incorporating these regions into its political, military, judicial, economic, and social spheres, including signing of integration treaties, transferring the strategically important Bichvinta resort, Sukhumi airport and Ochamchire port to the Russian Federation, conducting illegal so-called elections, including Russian presidential elections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali-South Ossetia in March 2024, and parliamentary elections in Tskhinvali-South Ossetia region in June 2024. We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s continued provocations, the continued military drills in Georgia’s territory, territorial sea and airspace, and the steps toward the establishment of a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, Abkhazia region, which poses a significant threat to the security of Georgia and, wider Black Sea region,” stated Ambassador Francesca Gatt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta, speaking on behalf of the Security Council members.

Furthermore, the Security Council members expressed concern over the erection of artificial barriers dividing Georgian regions and condemned the killings of Georgian citizens, including Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili, Tamaz Ginturi, and Vitali Karbaia, and called for accountability in the death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia, whose perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice.