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.

 

 

“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.”