PM: There Is Humanitarian Catastrophe in Occupied Territories

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says the recent developments in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia represent a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

According to him, before the August 2008 War, 120,000 people lived in the occupied "South Ossetia" region. Today, this number is 20 000. Up to 500,000 people lived in Abkhazia before the Georgia-Russia war, but now there are 120,000 locals.

“We have very painful challenges. 20% of Georgian territories are still occupied by Russia. What is happening in these territories cannot be called any other name but a humanitarian catastrophe,” he stated.

The Prime Minister underlined that Georgia’s response to this injustice is peace and development, as well as the creation of democratic institutions in the country.

“Naturally, on this path we need the help of our friends and we know that they are standing beside Georgian democracy,” Bakhtadze stated in his speech at a conference organized by the Progressive Alliance.

By Thea Morrison