10 years on from the August 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia,
the Russian Federation continues its illegal occupation of the
Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, undermining
international law and violating human rights. The S&D Group
unequivocally supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Georgia, while the resolution of this conflict is crucial to
enhancing security and stability across Europe.
S&D MEP Clare Moody, vice-chair of
subcommittee on security and defence,
said:
“With the resolution adopted today by the
European Parliament we want to demonstrate our
solidarity with the people of Georgia and show
that the EU has not forgotten what took place
in 2008. We cannot accept continued
occupation of 20 percent of its
territory.
“I welcome the Georgian peace initiative ‘A
Step to a Better Future’ and its positive note,
and I hope that, despite ten years of
occupation, we can help achieve better
relations between those who are kept apart by
the fences between Abkhazia, the Tskhinvali
region in South Ossetia and the rest of
Georgia. Georgia has been remarkably successful
in its socio-economic transition and
pro-European reforms, and is now a much
stronger country than ten years ago – and can
be seen as a model for all of the EU’s Eastern
Partnership, including in dealing with the
occupation.
“Despite these efforts, illegal detentions,
kidnappings and even murders continue to take
place in the occupied regions, which are
isolated by Russian forces who have installed
artificial barriers along the occupation line.
We condemn these actions in the strongest
terms, and call for resolute action to bring
the perpetrators to justice.
“We remain committed to seeing the Russian
Federation withdraw its military forces from
the territory of Georgia and abide by its
international obligations.”
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