There are forces in today's epoch that are undermining the foundation of security and peace, violating the territorial integrity of the countries, encouraging tensions and confrontation in the societies and preventing our free choice, - Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, said during his visit to the Republic of France, where he delivered a speech at the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly.

Kobakhidze drew attention to the occupation and the difficult situation in the occupied regions of Russia.

"Russia has occupied 20 percent of the territory of Georgia and has created the puppet authoritarian regimes in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. Human rights are daily violated in these regions: ethnic Georgians are deprived of their possibility of receiving education in their native language; The population’s right to movement is also restricted; Georgian villages were intentionally destroyed; people are being kidnaped, tortured and killed; both occupied regions were, in fact, turned into Russia's closed military bases or its service areas. Despite our great efforts, these two regions are not able to fully share the progress made by the rest of Georgia," said the Chairman of the Parliament.

According to him, despite the aggression, the Georgian government worked out a pragmatic and peaceful policy based on democratic principles towards Russia and this pragmatic policy has improved trade-economic and transport ties between the two countries, but political relations are still deadlocked.

"This policy provides for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, maximum involvement of the international community and development of relations. It is welcome that despite Russia's military-political position, relations between peoples have been expanding in recent years, which is reflected in the increasing number of Russian tourists in Georgia. The pragmatic policy improved trade-economic and transport ties between the two countries, but political relations are still deadlocked, since Russia still does not fulfill the France-brokered 2008 ceasefire agreement or does not recognize Georgia's territorial integrity. However, despite the great challenges, with the help of international friends and partners, we are actively building a democratic state based on equality and solidarity," said Irakli Kobakhidze.