Moscow, De Facto Authorities of Tskhinvali & Sokhumi Criticize Georgian PM

The Russian Federation and the puppet regimes of Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia (Sokhumi) and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) have criticized Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze’s speech at the 73rd Session of UN General Assembly in New York, made on September 28.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Georgia's peace initiative, aimed at improving the situation in the occupied regions, is defined only by how it is perceived in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.

“The Georgian PM called on Russia not to interfere with a new peace initiative in relation to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This speech left a strange feeling. As we see it, they are trying to convince the international community of something that is far from the reality, as if the population of those republics will be happy to return to the composition of Georgia if there are no Russian occupants. We hope that Georgian politicians understand the reality when they are not busy with their propagandistic exercises,” Russian MFA said.

Moreover, de facto foreign minister of the occupied Abkhazia Daur Kove said that Abkhazians, Ossetians and Georgians are citizens of different countries.

"The Prime Minister and the leadership of Georgia are wrong when they call us fellow citizens. We are citizens of different neighboring states, but not the same state…if Georgians want Abkhazians and Ossetians to live well, Georgia should stop the international isolation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Kove stated.

De facto S. Ossetia also echoed their allies’ statements, saying “the problem with Georgia is that it greatly exaggerates its economic opportunities and, what is even more misleading, its geopolitical significance.”

The breakaway region’s leadership says the Georgian PM’s statements are far from reality and do not match the aspirations of the Ossetian population.

At the UNGA, Bakhtadze called on the Russian Federation to withdraw its forces from the territory of Georgia. He also added “there are no ethnic conflicts in Georgia. This is part of the aggressor’s propaganda.”

The Prime Minister talked about the Georgian government's peace initiative, Step to a Better Future, aimed at overcoming the humanitarian disaster on the occupied territories and creating new opportunities for the citizens of Georgia living in the occupied regions.

“With this initiative, we are fighting to stop the process of depopulation of the occupied territories and to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights. This initiative aims to provide the population living on the occupied territories access to healthcare and education services and to create conditions for business activities," said Bakhtadze.

By Thea Morrison