Disinfo: Georgia’s military adventure was encouraged by Western partners in 2008

Summary

Russia advocates the continuation of consultations in Geneva between Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia to reach "a legal formula for their mutual obligations regarding the non-use of force and the resolution of other urgent issues."

This should be a reliable guarantee that Georgia does not repeat military adventures, which were directly or indirectly encouraged by some Western partners in 2008.

The criminal acts committed by the regime of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, such as the bombing of sleeping Tskhinvali, should not be repeated.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative trying to deny any role for Russia in the Russo-Georgian war, portraying it as a peacemaker and blaming Georgia and its political leadership, as well as, the West for the war which resulted in the further occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by additional military forces from Russia timed around the 13th anniversary of the conflict.

Georgia is a sovereign country attacked by Russia in 2008. Many international organisations condemned the further occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, see e.g. the CSCE statement here, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia here and the European Parliament's declaration.

The EU's independent investigative commission into the 2008 Russia-Georgian war confirmed that Russia had been provoking Georgia for a long time and "Much of the Russian military action went far beyond the reasonable limits of defence."

Currently, Russia occupies 20% of Georgia's territory, about 13 years after the Russo-Georgian War, and continues to breach its international obligations by consolidating its control in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia continues its military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of international law and commitments undertaken by Russia under the 12 August 2008 agreement, mediated by the European Union.

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  • Reported in: Issue 255
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/08/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Georgia, Georgian region of Abkhazia, Georgian region of South Ossetia
  • Keywords: West, Russo-Georgian War, Mikheil Saakashvili
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