Speaker: Georgia’s Occupied Regions Are Transformed into Russian Military Bases
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, January 17
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze stated that two breakaway regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) – have been transformed by Russia into closed military bases.
The Speaker made the statement while delivering a speech at the sitting of Foreign Relations Committee of National Assembly of France on January 16.
Kobakhidze talked about the consequences of the Russian occupation. He said that Russia established puppet regimes in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
“Russia has occupied 20% of our territories and created the authoritarian regimes in breakaway regions. Human rights in these regions are grossly violated on daily basis: ethnically Georgian children are deprived of the right to be educated in their native language; the population is restricted in movement, Georgian villages are being deliberately demolished, people are abducted, tortured and murdered,” he stressed.
The Speaker noted that both these regions are deprived the opportunity to enjoy the progress the country has achieved.
“Despite aggression, Georgian Government keeps the pragmatic, peaceful policy based on democratic principles, which has improved trade-economic and transport relations with Russia but the political relations remain in the deadlock as Russia refuses to fulfill the 2008 cease-fire agreement and to recognize the territorial integrity of Georgia,” he added.
Kobakhidze says the government’s policy envisages peaceful resolution of the conflict, maximal engagement of the international community and contingent prospect of relations.
The Speaker also mentioned the reforms implemented in Georgia. According to him, Georgia undertakes the fundamental reforms for formation and enhancement of the state institutions oriented to rule of law, human rights, education and the citizens.
“These reforms upheld in Georgia resulted in the greatest achievements recognized by the authoritative international organizations,” he added.
He underlined that Georgia fully realizes its role in the region and is committed to contributing to the world stability and security.
“Georgian soldiers keep contributing in peace in all the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan but unfortunately, this effort is made at the account of lives of Georgian soldiers,” he said.
Kobakhidze started his working visit to France on January 15. He met with the President of the National Assembly of France, Richard Ferrand and also the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher.
The Speaker had a meeting with the representatives of the Georgian Diaspora and visited the historical Leuville Chateau Estate, located around 27 kilometers from Paris, France, which was officially returned to Georgia on September 23, 2016 as it is the place where the first government of Georgia settled in exile after fleeing their homes in 1921, when the Russian Red Army entered Georgia.
