Russia accuses West, Ukraine of seeking to draw Georgia into new conflict

Russia has accused Western countries, Ukraine and what it described as “radical” political forces in Georgia of attempting to draw Tbilisi into new armed conflicts in the South Caucasus.

The Russian Foreign Ministry made the statement on the 18th anniversary of the 2008 Five-Day War, publishing its assessment on the ministry’s website, Caliber.Az reports.

Moscow said it supports the drafting and signing of a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force between Tbilisi and the "authorities" in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The ministry also called for the prompt launch of negotiations on the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian state borders.

“The adoption of such legally binding commitments represents a robust guarantee against a recurrence of the tragic events of August 2008. The launch of the process of delimiting the Georgian-South Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz state borders, followed by their demarcation, should be a genuine contribution to stabilising the situation in the border areas,” the statement said.

The Russian ministry argued that these issues had become particularly important amid what it described as efforts by Western countries, Ukraine and radical Georgian political forces to involve Georgia in new conflicts.

“These goals are becoming particularly important amid attempts by Western countries, the Nazi regime in Kiev [Kyiv], and radical Georgian political forces to drag Tbilisi into new bloody adventures in the South Caucasus,” the ministry said.

Moscow also pointed to what it described as efforts within Georgian society to reassess the events of August 2008. The ministry said it considered recognition of the responsibility of the government of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for the outbreak of the conflict justified.

It also welcomed statements by Georgia’s current leadership regarding reconciliation with Abkhazians and South Ossetians, saying they raised hopes that the change in approach would be followed by concrete measures to improve relations.

The ministry said Russia remained ready to assist the parties in advancing negotiations, building confidence and developing relations, with the stated goal of strengthening stability and security in the South Caucasus.

By Sabina Mammadli