The Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality of Georgia has issued a statement on the 17th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia War.

As the office notes, there is no alternative to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

According to them, “in the context of limited access to the occupied regions and the difficult human rights, security and socio-economic situation on the ground, the Government of Georgia firmly and unwaveringly continues to pursue a state policy of reconciliation and engagement.”

“It has been 17 years since the Russian Federation, as a result of its large-scale military aggression against Georgia, violated the internationally recognized borders and territorial integrity of a sovereign state, which resulted in the illegal occupation of the integral territories of Georgia - the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civil Equality pays tribute to the memory of the heroes, fighters and civilians who died in the Russia-Georgia war of August 2008, in the fight for the independence and territorial integrity of Georgia, and expresses its condolences to their families, relatives and all Georgia.

In gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, the Russian Federation continues to occupy the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions to this day; the displacement of the local population continues gross violations of fundamental rights, including ethnic discrimination, the process of erecting barbed wire and other artificial barriers along the dividing lines, restrictions on free movement, illegal detention of Georgian citizens, prohibition of education in the native language, restriction of access to property, etc. Those involved in and responsible for the killings of Georgian citizens - Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili, Irakli Kvaratskhelia and Tamaz Ginturi - remain unpunished. As a result of several waves of ethnic cleansing, hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons are still deprived of the opportunity to return to their homes in safety and dignity. The EU Monitoring Mission is still not given the opportunity to fully fulfill its mandate and monitor the occupied regions.

In addition, the expansion of the process of creating a military, political and common socio-economic space for the purpose of strengthening and artificially isolating the local population, which, among other goals, is directed against the growing ties between peoples and the process of reconciliationthe, is worrying.

In accordance with numerous decisions of international courts, the Russian Federation bears full responsibility for the situation in the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and the illegal actions taken. The Government of Georgia, using all the levers at its disposal and in coordinated, intensive cooperation with international partners, continues its efforts to overcome the grave consequences of the occupation.

There is no alternative to strengthening peace and resolving the conflict peacefully. In the conditions of limited access to the occupied regions and against the background of the grave human rights, security and socio-economic situation on the ground, the Government of Georgia firmly and unwaveringly continues to pursue a state policy of reconciliation and engagement. Along with de-occupation, the efforts are aimed at building trust among members of an artificially divided society, promoting cooperation and dialogue around common interests, as well as caring for the conflict-affected population and offering them prospects for a better future.

The State Minister’s Office highly appreciates the unwavering support of the international community and the continuation of consolidated efforts to further strengthen the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders; as well as the role of international partners in the process of peaceful resolution of the conflict, including reconciliation and rebuilding trust,” the State Minister’s Office says in the statement.