The United States considered unacceptable Putin’s visit to Abkhazia
Washington has urged Moscow to respect Georgia’s sovereignty and withdraw its troops from “occupied by Russia Georgian territories” to the positions they occupied before the hostilities in 2008.
WASHINGTON, 10 Aug — RIA Novosti, Dmitry Zlatarev. USA commented on the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Abkhazia, urging Moscow to “respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia”, said in a release sent to RIA Novosti on Wednesday the official representative of the Department of state Heather Nauert.
Putin visited Abkhazia on 8 August — the anniversary of the “five day war” in 2008.
“The US considered the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Russian-occupied Georgian territory of Abkhazia as unacceptable and inconsistent with the principles of the Geneva international discussions, participant of which is Russia”, — reads the statement of the state Department.
There emphasizes that “the United States fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and rejects Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia”.
“USA urge Russia to withdraw its troops to positions they held prior to military action in 2008, and to reconsider the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia”, — stated in the message.
Georgia on the night of 8 August 2008 fired from rocket launchers “Grad” South Ossetia, Georgian forces attacked the Republic and destroyed part of its capital Tskhinvali. Russia, protecting inhabitants of South Ossetia, many of whom took Russian citizenship, sent troops into the Republic and after five days of fighting ousted Georgian troops.
After a five-day war in August 2008 Russia recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, formerly part of Georgia. Russian leaders have repeatedly stated that this decision is not subject to revision. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow.