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Georgia: Medvedev’s Tskhinvali Visit ‘Illegal’

RIA Novosti

16:10 10/08/2012 TBILISI, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has denounced as "illegal" Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.

Medvedev's visit came on the fourth anniversary of the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, which culminated in Moscow recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and another Georgian breakaway republic, Abkhazia.

“Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on August 8 illegally entered the territory of the sovereign state of Georgia and visited the occupied Tskhinvali region, the Foreign Ministry’s statement said. “This action was carried out in violation of the laws of Georgia and in particular the law on the occupied territories [Abkhazia and South Ossetia].”

Following Russia's conferral recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Tbilisi passed The "Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories" in October 2008, officially declaring the "Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia" and "The Tskhinvali Region (territory of the former South Ossetia Autonomous Region)" to be "occupied territories."

The law forbids entry into the regions from Russia and subjects violators to a fine or imprisonment, a restriction Russia's foreign ministry considers "repression."

The Foreign Ministry stressed that “Russia is isolated in its decision to recognize the independence of the two Georgian regions, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.”

“Russia’s efforts to manipulate the international community through threats or rewards have not yielded significant results. The Kremlin must realize that the international position with regard to Georgia’s territorial integrity is unshakable, and Georgia is committed to a future where there will be no place for occupying forces,” the statement said.

Six United Nations member states recognize Abkhazia and five recognize South Ossetia. The United States, European Union, and a majority of UN member states have affirmed Georgia’s territorial integrity and do not recognize the regions’ independence.