Tbilisi Condemns Opening of “Customs Points” in Georgia’s Breakaway Regions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Georgia has condemned the opening of “customs points” in the breakaway regions, namely in occupied Akhalgori, South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) and breakaway Sokhumi (Abkhazia) by the Russian Federation.
The Ministry stressed that such steps are aimed at the integration of the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions within the customs sphere of the Russian Federation, and represents another illegal step towards factual annexation of these regions by the Russian occupation regime.
“Alongside the opening of so called custom point in Akhalgori, the bringing of meat and dairy products from the rest of Georgia into the occupied Tskhinvali region was banned, which even more aggravates the dire humanitarian situation of the local population, restricts their freedom of movement and blatantly violates their fundamental rights,” the statement reads.
Tbilisi says the opening of so called customs points represents part of Moscow’s policy of the integration of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions into Russia’s system, including the customs-economics sphere, through the implementation of so called treaties, and the isolation of these regions from the rest of Georgia.
“With such destructive actions, the Russian Federation deliberately attempts to hamper the efforts of Georgia and the international society for peaceful conflict resolution and engagement between the communities divided by the occupation line,” the statement of Georgian MFA reads.
The Ministry calls on the Russian Federation to cease the provocative actions against the Georgian statehood, abide by its international commitments, de-occupy Georgia’s territories and take steps aimed towards the peaceful conflict resolution, in accordance with the principles of international law.
The MFA also appealed to the international community to give due assessment to Russia’s aggressive policy, and take effective measures against the steps towards factual annexation of the territories of the sovereign state.
By Thea Morrison
Photo source: metronome.ge