Georgia-s ruling party has criticised recent amendments to the resolution adopted at the 31st annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, according Georgia’s Public Broadcaster.
The statement of Georgian Dream party highlights that the wording added to the resolution titled “The Role of the OSCE in the Current Security Architecture: A Parliamentary Perspective” aligns with Russia’s long-standing objective of presenting itself as not being a party to the conflict. According to GD, the amendment implies a tripartite conflict involving Tbilisi-controlled Georgia, Abkhazia, and Ossetia, rather than recognizing Russia’s role as an aggressor.
“As you know, at the 31st annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a resolution titled “The Role of the OSCE in the Current Security Architecture: A Parliamentary Perspective” was adopted.
We would like to point out that the wording added to the paragraph about Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories aligns exactly with what Russia has been trying to achieve in the Geneva negotiations for the last 16 years – to pretend that Russia is not a party to the conflict. The amendment states: “Reconciliation of Tbilisi-controlled Georgia, Abkhazia, and Ossetia is necessary.”
Russia is occupying Abkhazia and Samachablo since 1992
The paragraph suggests there are three parties in the conflict, with the strange construction of “Tbilisi-controlled Georgia,” Abkhazia, and Ossetia. This amendment implies that Russia is attempting to resolve the conflict through different channels, which is disinformation and defends Russia’s destructive behavior within the Geneva format. This is seriously worrying, especially because the OSCE is a co-chair of the Geneva negotiations, and the United States, whose representatives authored the amendment, is a member of the Geneva format and a strategic partner of Georgia. Including this wording in the resolution contradicts the principle of Georgia’s territorial integrity and the declared policies of the OSCE and the USA.
Georgia’s initiative to include the occupation of the territories in another amendment, which addressed Russia’s harmful actions, was unfortunately rejected and not incorporated into the resolution.
Due to the violation of Georgia’s state interests, our delegation will vote against the final resolution. We are aware that Georgia’s vote is not decisive because we are a small country with a very small delegation, and we will likely be in the minority. However, we must openly state that the amendments are biased and based only on oral statements without any supporting evidence.
It is unfortunate that in this particular case, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is playing Russia’s game. Our decision remains unshakable, and we will continue to fight to protect our country,” the statement reads.
In April resolution European Union mentioned Russia as the part of the conflict.
“The EU condemns the continued illegal Russian military presence and activities in Georgia.
Russia’s participation in war against Georgia is documented by Georgian and International organisations.
Russia committed Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
We are also concerned about Russia’s attempts to de-facto integrate Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Russia’s regulatory and security space, as well as the ongoing “borderisation” activities, the restrictions on the movement of civilians across the administrative boundary lines and the arbitrary detention of Georgian citizens. The EU considers the Russian presidential election polling stations opened in occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia without the consent of the Georgian Government illegal.
The EU reiterates its call to enable immediate and unimpeded access to Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for international and regional human rights mechanisms to fully implement their mandates. We are seriously concerned about the lasting human rights violations committed therein, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and we echo his calls for accountability.
The EU calls on Russia, as a party to this conflict, to recommit itself to respecting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and to fulfil its obligations under the agreement of 12 August 2008 and its subsequent implementing measures of 8 September 2008 in full and without further delay. The EU also urges Russia to ensure the proper follow-up of the landmark judgement of 21 January 2021 of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Georgia vs Russi”, Statement reads.
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