According to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pays a “visit” to the occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia on 18-19 April 2017. In parallel to the meetings with representatives of the occupation regime, he will participate in the opening ceremony of new building of the so-called Russian embassy in the occupied region.

The “visit” of the Russian Foreign Minister to the occupied Abkhazia region in violation of the Georgian state border and opening of new building of the illegal diplomatic representation of the Russian Federation on the ground blatantly violates the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state within its internationally recognised borders and other fundamental norms of international law.

This represents a continuation of Moscow’s provocative policy against the Georgian state, which aims at legitimizing the forceful change of borders of the sovereign state through ethnic cleansing and military occupation. With this kind of illegal acts the Russian Federation attempts in vain to legitimize the occupation regimes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the Russian Federation to cease the practice of provocative actions, respect the territorial integrity of the sovereign state and implement its international obligations including the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.