Latest News

Images of the Tragedy in Georgia

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:05:50 +0000

Previous View Photo Next

Re: Georgia's Withdrawal from CIS

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:31:07 +0000

12 August 2008
Press and Information Department

Comment of the Press and Information Department to a question of the News-Georgia Agency concerning Georgia’s withdrawal from CIS

Question: How would you assess the comment of spokesperson A. Nesterenko of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to a question of Itar-Tass correspondent regarding President Saakashvili’s statement on Georgia’s withdrawal from CIS?

Answer: It is a sovereign right of each country to make a decision on its membership in any international organization. CIS as an international organization failed to meet Georgia’s expectations in terms of regulation of the conflicts as well as resolution of political and economic issues.
Mr. Nesterenko is apparently mistaken describing the decision on withdrawal from CIS as a hasty one. Georgia has long been preparing for taking this step. A special governmental commission was set up 2 years ago to study thisissue.
Against the background of the Russian Federation waging an undeclared war in Georgia, Georgia considers as absolutely unacceptable its membership in the organization, which was established under the dictates and leadership of Russia.

Georgian MFA: About Ethnic Cleancing of Georgian Polulation

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:28:18 +0000

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Tbilisi, 13 August 2008

Starting from 8 August 2008 to date, the Russian Federation has been engaged in carrying out the occupation of the Georgian territory. In this process the Russian side makes an active use of illegal bandit gangs and so-called North Caucasian volunteers present in Georgia’s conflict regions.
To our great regret, representatives of Abkhazia’s separatist authorities took advantage of the escalated situation in the Tskhinvali region and, in violation of all agreements and treaties signed up to this day and with the assistance of Russian ‘peacekeepers’, made an attack on Upper Abkhazia and invaded its entire territory. Just like in the 1990s, separatists, with the support of Russian troops, conducted a mass cleansing of the local population of ethnic Georgians.

Developments are following an analogous scenario in the Tskhinvali region as well, where ethnic Georgians are slaughtered daily with utter brutality.

Russia Breaches Ceasefire Agreement

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:25:04 +0000

Government of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13 - 13:30 CET

The Georgian Government notes with concern the decision by the Russian Federation to breach the terms of the ceasefire agreed last night by Presidents Saakashvili, Medvedev and Sarkozy.

Reports from the media, diplomatic sources and our own intelligence confirm that Russian tanks moved into Gori this morning. They are still there, and are firing their guns. Reports speak of summary executions of Georgian civilians in the area.

The Georgian Government calls on the international community to pressure the Russian Federation to immediately stop the operations of its troops and return to the areas agreed in the ceasefire. The Government remains committed to the agreed ceasefire, and insists that Russia abide by its terms.

Helsinki Commision Co-Chairmen Condemn Russian Assault on Georgia

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:21:06 +0000

(Washington, DC) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), made the following statement on Russia’s assault on the Republic of Georgia:
“Russia’s intervention into Georgia is a clear violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity and Principle Four of the Helsinki Final Act,” said Co-Chairmen Hastings and Cardin. “We urge Moscow to cease its military operations immediately.”

Chairman Hastings noted, “The Russian Federation has departed from its commitment to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) guiding principles of refraining from the threat of or use of force in the settlement of disputes; respect for the inviolability of borders and the territorial integrity of states; and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”

Co-Chairman Cardin commented, “Georgia and Russia have accused each other of responsibility for this military confrontation. But Moscow’s rejection of arbitration by the international community clearly demonstrates its indifference to cooperation and ending the hostilities, which have been building.”

Central and East European Coalition Press Conference

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:55:29 +0000

MEDIA ADVISORY, Contact: Monika Ramanauskaite
August 12, 2008, Tel: (301) 340-1954

CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION
1612 K Street, N.W., Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20006

RE: PRESS CONFERENCE ON RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CONFLICT
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
WHERE: Cannon House Office Building, Room#441
TIME: 3:00pm

Washington, DC (CEEC) - The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC)* will sponsor a press conference to discuss the current status of the Russian invasion of Georgia. Speakers will include Mr. Mamuka Tsereteli, President – Georgian Association of the U.S.; Amb. Bill Courtney, former U.S. ambassador to Georgia; and, members of the Central and East European Coalition representing various American national organizations of Central and East European heritage. “The goal of this press conference is to bring attention to grave effects of the Russian invasion on the Georgian nation, as well as the implications for other countries in the region. The threats of a Russian ‘sphere of influence’ are looming over the Central and East European countries,” remarked Marju Rink-Abel, President of the Estonian American National Council.

The CEEC has issued a statement (attached) regarding the Russian invasion of the sovereign territory of Georgia.

Georgia Files Ethnic Cleansing Case Against Russian Federation at International Criminal Court

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:27:29 +0000

Government of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 - 18:15 CET

Georgia Files Ethnic Cleansing Case Against Russian Federation at International Criminal Court

The Hague, Netherlands — The Government of Georgia has today filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, against the Russian Federation for alleged acts of ethnic cleansing, conducted on Georgian sovereign territory between t1993 and 2008.

The case has been filed on Georgia's behalf by its legal adviser, Payam Akhavan, Professor of International Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Mr Akhavan is a world renowned expert on the issue of war crimes and international law in relation to atrocities. He was the first Legal Adviser to the Prosecutor's Office at the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and played a key role in developing its foundational jurisprudence.

In Regard with Possible Ethnic Persecution of Georgian Citizens and Ethnic Georgians in the Russian Federation

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:24:24 +0000

Response of the Press and Information Department to a question of the Georgia-News Agency concerning the possible ethnic persecution of Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians in the Russian Federation

Question: How would you assess reports by Russian mass media sources about the possible ethnic persecution of Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians in the Russian Federation?

Answer: We all keep a vivid memory of the immoral campaign launched by the Russian Authorities in autumn of 2006 aiming at violation of basic human rights, including the right to life, of the citizens of Georgia and ethnic Georgians (actions of the Russian Authorities then claimed the lives of a number of people)

Timeline by August 12th

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:16:58 +0000

Timeline by 12th of August 14:50

12 August

14:50 Village Sakoritno in Kaspi region and village Ruisi in Kareli region are bombed by Russian aviation

14:00 In village Agara (Khashuri region) Russian military jets bombarded an ambulance vehicle

13:25 Three Russian airplanes dropped bombs on the village of Orchosani near Gori.

12:30 Vasiani base nearby Tbilisi has been bombed by Russian planes.

12:25 Oil pipeline 5 km from the city of Rustavi has been bombed.

10:15 Russian planes bombed Gori. The territory around administration building and city market have been bombed.

In the morning ours of 12 August Russian airplanes bombed the village of Tkviavi near Tskhinvali once again.

03:25 Russian envoy to the UN Churkin announced on the press conference that Russia will not support the resolution. Georgian envoy Alasania announced that suggested resolution is acceptable to Georgia.

02:15 Emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN started. The resolution about cease-fire prepared by France was discussed.

02:05 Russian aviation bombarded Kaspi 30 Km from Tbilisi out of conflict zone. 3 bombs were dropped near the Heidelberg Cement factory (one from the two cement factories in the country). No damage was reported.

Georgia will Withdraw from CIS

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:10:58 +0000

Government of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 - 18:45 Tbilisi, Georgia

President announces Georgia's withdrawal from Commonwealth of Independent States

The President of Georgia today announced that Georgia will withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States. He also appealed to other members of the CIS withdraw as well.

Russian Forces Block Humanitarian Corridor

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:43:45 +0000

Government of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, August 12 - 21:50 Tbilisi, Georgia

Russian Forces Block Humanitarian Corridor To Tskhinvali, Deny Entry to Medical Personnel

Georgian medical staff trying to enter Tshkinvali via the humanitarian corridor established after Georgian forces announced their ceasefire and withdrawal from South Ossetia have been denied entry by Russian forces that control the city.

Emergency staff are urgently trying to gain access to the city to provide vital medical support to injured Georgian and South Ossetian civilians. The city has been virtually destroyed by the Russian invasion. There are currently no medical supplies remaining there.

The humanitarian corridor was established by Georgian forces specifically to enable the safe passage of refugees out of the conflict zone, and allow access to the city and its surrounding area for emergency medical personnel.

For further information, please contact:

Nato Chikovani, Press Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia: +995.77.507.726

Georgia Confirms Continued Presence of Massive Russian Occupation Force, Bombings, Ethnic Cleansing and Economic Warfare Contrary to some Media Reports

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:41:17 +0000

Government of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 12 - 17:50 Tbilisi, Georgia

URGENT: Georgia confirms continued presence of massive Russian occupation force, bombings, ethnic cleansing & economic warfare Contrary to some media reports and to the statement by Russian President Medvedev, Russian occupation forces are fully operational in Georgia with at least 12,000 troops throughout the country, many of them outside of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is no way represents a "halt to military operations" or a "halt to war" as many media outlets are reporting.

Specifically, at this hour:

Russian soldiers occupy the Georgian Black Sea Port of Poti, which they have destroyed and where they have killed nearly 100 civilians. The port is blockaded and their are tanks on the roads outside of Poti.

In recent hours:

Russian forces have bombed Gori city center for the first time, where two journalists were reported killed today and a hospital was bombed.
In western Georgia, Russian troops ordered members of the civil administration to abandon their posts—In Senaki, Russian forces bombed and are believed to have mined a major Georgian army base. The base had been evacuated prior to the attack.

Statement by the Ambassador of Georgia to the USA, Canada and Mexico

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:21:44 +0000

Ambassador of Georgia to the USA, Canada and Mexico H.E. Dr. Vasil Sikharulidze
National Press Club
Washington, DC
11 August, 2008

I want to thank each of you for coming here at this late hour. I appreciate your attendance on such a short notice.

The time is a critical for my country – a free and democratic Georgia faces extinction at the hands of a brutal Russian invasion that is designed to change state regime in Georgia and destroy the country. This must not, must not, be allowed to happen.

As I stand here, Georgian military units have pulled back to the capital and formed a final defensive perimeter awaiting another Russian attack.

The entire country of Georgia since Friday has faced overwhelming attacks as Russia has used its military might to invade my country—by land, by sea and by air. Cyber attacks have taken down government websites and news outlets to blind the media and world community to their invasion.

Make no mistake, this Russian invasion was premeditated, well planned and executed. Russia has used the separatist conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia that it masterminded, organized, financed, and fought alongside the separatists in the early 1990s, as a launch pad for its military invasion.

Georgian Electronic Space under Russian Attack

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:36:52 +0000

As it is known, the Georgian electronic space is under permanent DDoS attack. The web-site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is blocked. Relevantly, statements and press-releases of the Government of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are available at the following address: http://georgiamfa.blogspot.com., as well as at the website of the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński: http://www.president.pl, in a special call-out, titled "Information about the latest developments in Georgia".

Italian Foreign Minister on situation in Georgia - August 11th

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:32:28 +0000

Minister Frattini continues to follow the situation in Georgia with close concern

Rome 10 August 2008

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, continues to follow developments in Georgia with close concern. He is liaising with the Premier, Silvio Berlusconi and staying in constant contact with his colleagues in the major EU and Atlantic countries.

Minister Frattini exchanged views today, 10 August, with the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, and the Finnish Foreign Minister, Alexander Stubb, in view of their mission to Tbilisi and Moscow in their roles as, respectively, President of the European Union’s Council of Ministers and current Chairman of the OSCE.

During their talks Minister Frattini stressed the need for the greatest possible cohesion between the countries of the EU on the lines proposed by the French Presidency. He also underscored the timely need for close coordination between the European countries in the United Nations Security Council, and Germany, in order to establish a common position in view of the forthcoming discussions in New York.