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2.4 Georgia’s leadership condemns Russia’s annexation of occupied territories in Ukraine
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili condemned Russia's annexation of occupied territories in Eastern Ukraine following a treaty signing ceremony at the Kremlin on September 30.
“Formalising sham referendum to support a blatant violation of international law and forceful annexation has no legitimacy, no future,” President Zourabichvili wrote on Twitter.
“We reject such gross violations of international law and reiterate our full support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.”
Moscow claims that residents of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine voted unanimously to become part of Russia last week in referendums organised by Russia-installed officials. Western political leaders have denounced the referendums and their legitimacy, stating they violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and that their results are falsified and illegal.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its own statement condemning Russia’s annexation.
“Georgia, which has experienced attempts to forcibly change its borders, never recognises the results of the so-called referendums held in the regions of Ukraine and once again clearly states its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” reads the MFA’s statement.
Approximately 20 percent of Georgian territory remains under Russian military occupation following the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, which resulted in Georgia losing control over parts of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the government of Georgia has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including accommodation and other resources to Ukrainian citizens entering Georgia.
2.5 Garibashvili meets new EU ambassador
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili met with the new EU ambassador, Polish diplomat Pawel Herczynski, who replaced his Swedish colleague Carl Hartzell on September 9 in Tbilisi. According to the press release, the parties reviewed the main directions of the association agenda of the European Union and Georgia at the introductory meeting.
It was noted that the European Council, by giving Georgia a European perspective, confirmed that Georgia's future lies in the European Union, and the decision of the European Council laid the foundation for a new stage that should bring Georgia to EU membership.
According to Garibashvili, Georgia reacted immediately to the decision of the European Council and presented an action plan to fulfil the 12 priorities of the European Union. The prime minister added that working groups have been created based on priorities, in which all relevant stakeholders are involved.
At the meeting, it was mentioned that the relations between the European
11 GEORGIA Country Report October 2022 www.intellinews.com