Georgia hits out at Russian 'occupation'

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Tbilisi is "firmly" committed to a peaceful solution to the Russia-Georgia conflict, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said on Friday.

"Since the beginning of 2017, the Russian Federation has intensified its policy of occupation and factual annexation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia," Kvirikashvili said, according to a prime ministry office statement.

Addressing the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Kvirikashvili said Moscow continues to "occupy" two historic regions of Georgia's sovereign territory in violation of its many international obligations.

"It [Russia] has implemented so-called integration treaties and signed so-called agreements with de-facto authorities to absorb Georgia's occupied regions into Russia's military, political, economic and social systems and accelerated its military build-up in both occupied regions of Georgia," he added.

Tbilisi fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008 over Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Georgia lost its control of both areas and Russia later recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

The only UN member states to recognize the breakaway regions are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.