Marking 15 years since Russia’s aggression

Georgia aims to capitalize upon its strategic location and enhance its role, serving as a regional transportation and energy hub, opening up opportunities for alternative routes of energy supply, freight transportation, and digital connections.

Ambassador of Georgia to Korea

Tarash PapaskuaThe author is Georgia’s ambassador to Korea. This year marks a somber reminder of the enduring challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale aggression against Georgia in August 2008.

15 years ago, the Russian Federation launched the invasion of Georgia in blatant violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law, the United Nations charter, and the Helsinki Final Act, effectively shattering the foundations of European security architecture.

Georgia suffered immense casualties as a result of the aggression, which lead to the second wave of ethnic cleansing, with the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from both Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions surpassing half million.

Even today, Georgia continues its fight for territorial integrity as Russia continues its illegal occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territories, maintains illegal presence therein and continues to incorporate them further into its political, economic, military and judicial spheres.

Throughout the last 15 years, Georgia maintained that Russia’s 2008 aggression against Georgia was not an isolated case and getting back to “business as usual” with Russia would further exacerbate the security environment in the region. What followed was Russia’s aggression in 2014 and a large-scale, premeditated war against Ukraine in 2022, proving our concerns right.

The security situation in the Russian occupied regions remains tense, with risks of escalation, especially in the current context of Russia’s illegal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. Russia continues to violate the 2008 European Union-mediated Ceasefire Agreement. 15 years later, Georgia still remains the only party in full compliance with the agreement.

The humanitarian and human rights dimension of the Russian occupation is particularly disturbing. Human rights are being violated on a daily basis, which include, but are not limited to: the right to life, illegal detentions and kidnappings, torture and ill-treatment. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights put it, such “lack of accountability continues to contribute to impunity, which could lead to further tensions and insecurity.”

Other persisting human rights violations include restriction of freedom of movement; right to education in mother tongue; right to property, etc. while hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees from the occupied regions are still deprived of the right to safe and dignified return to their homes. Despite the fact that 100 members of the UN General Assembly called upon Russia to create favorable security conditions for their safe, dignified and unhindered return after adopting the Resolution 77/870 of June 7, 2023, Russia continues denying these rights.

The situation is even more alarming as Russia does not allow the access of international security and human rights mechanisms to the occupied regions. Even the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM), as the only international mission with the mandate to monitor the implementation of the EU-mediated August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, is hampered from entering the occupied regions.

It should be stressed that Russia’s responsibility for all of the above violations of the fundamental human rights and basic norms and principles of international law is confirmed by the numerous decisions of international courts, notably the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court.

15 years on, the government of Georgia remains committed to the peaceful conflict resolution policy directed at de-occupation of its regions, while pursuing reconciliation and confidence building between the communities divided by occupation. The government is strongly committed to the negotiations format between Russia and Georgia, such as the Geneva International Discussions, with the involvement of key international actors — the EU, the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the United States — to reach tangible results for a lasting peace, security and human rights protection on the ground.

Today, Georgia remains steadfast in upholding and promoting the universal values and shared principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Georgia aspires to become a member of the European Union and is determined to swiftly progress on the EU accession path, with the candidate status being its next immediate milestone.

Amidst global challenges, Georgia’s policies are aimed at ensuring country’s fast economic development through expanding its logistical, transportation and renewable energy capacities, maintaining a simple and transparent business environment and integrating it into the global value chains. Georgia aims to capitalize upon its strategic location and enhance its role, serving as a regional transportation and energy hub, opening up opportunities for alternative routes of energy supply, freight transportation, and digital connections.

Georgia is poised to play a pivotal role in connecting East to West in the years to come!