14 years after the Russian-Georgian war, Moscow continues to expand its illegal control in the occupied territories of Georgia – Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This was stated by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, August 7, on the 14th anniversary of the August war.

“After 14 years of occupation, Russia fails to abide by the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, expands its illegal control in the occupied regions, continues the process of militarization, actively takes measures for its real annexation,” said the statement. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The agency points to the placement of barbed wire, the construction of other barriers along the demarcation line, illegal arrests and kidnappings, serious human rights violations and ethnic discrimination against the Georgian population in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “Russia is undermining security, human rights and the humanitarian situation on the ground and is trying to isolate people living in the occupied territories from the rest of Georgia and the international community,” the statement said.

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Russian Federation to stop “illegal and provocative actions against Georgia”, respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, fulfill the obligations of the 2008 agreement, withdraw its troops from Georgia and cancel the ” illegal decision to recognize the so-called independence of the occupied regions”.

Five-day war between Russia and Georgia

As a result of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, South Ossetia was torn from Georgia, and a “republic” not recognized by the international community was proclaimed on its territory. During the hostilities that lasted from 8 to 12 August, around 850 people were killed. Some 120,000 people were forced from their homes during the conflict, according to the UN.

The war was stopped through the mediation of the European Union and personally by Nicolas Sarkozy, the then president of France, who presided over the EU. Together with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, Sarkozy drew up a plan for a peaceful settlement. The document contained six points, including the withdrawal of the armed forces to the positions they held before the start of the military conflict.

Meanwhile, Russia to this day maintains a military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, without fulfilling this point of the plan. Furthermore, Moscow recognized both regions as “sovereign states”. Of all the countries in the world, the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has also only been recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela, the dwarf island state of Nauru and Syria.