Georgian opposition calls government to react to Russian state official's Abkhazia visit

Foreign Ministry of Georgia should immediately respond to the visit of the Chairman of the Russian State Duma to Abkhazia, and the violation of our territorial integrity and the law "on occupation - the government should properly assess Russia's attempt to annex Bichvinta, the opposition member of the Parliament, Teona Akubardia, said.

According to her, the so-called visit served to increase the pressure on the Abkhaz society for the purpose of the annexation of Bichvinta, a city in Abkhazia, Interpress.Ge informs.

"Russia continues to take steps against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, which was further demonstrated by the visit of the Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to occupied Abkhazia on December 1," she said.

According to her, this visit serves, among other things, to increase the pressure on the Abkhaz society for the annexation of Bichvinta. As it is known, on January 19 of this year, the so-called agreement was signed between Russia and the de facto government of occupied Abkhazia. The agreement by which Bichvinta country houses and 186 hectares of land will be transferred to Russia for half a century. In order to ratify it, the de facto parliament is also spreading the relevant project on social networks.

"In this situation, the immediate response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is necessary, as the chairman of the Russian Duma violated our territorial integrity and the law "on Occupation" with this visit. At the same time, the government of Georgia should properly assess Russia's attempt to annex Bichvinta and call on the international community to condemn it, which has not yet happened despite numerous calls from MPs and public representatives," Akubardia said.

Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has not issued a statement regarding the visit of the Speaker of the Russian Duma to occupied Abkhazia.