Georgia’s opposition party ‘For Georgia’ has accused Russia of launching a new phase of annexation in the occupied Tskhinvali region, citing the implementation of a recently signed agreement between Moscow and the de facto authorities.
In a statement, the party said that the so-called “Treaty on Deepening Allied Cooperation,” signed between Russia and the Tskhinvali regime in May, has entered into force and is now being implemented in practice. The party says Russia’s policy in the occupied region is evidence of this process.
The statement points to the appointment of Russian official Marat Kambolov to a senior role in occupied Tskhinvali. The party claims that Kambolov was first appointed as an adviser to the de facto president and is now reportedly being considered for the position of “prime minister” of the occupation regime.
‘For Georgia’ argues that the agreement aims to fully integrate the occupied region’s socio-economic, transport, energy and military sectors with the Russian Federation, describing the process as another step toward the de facto annexation of Georgian territory and a direct threat to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The party called on the Georgian Dream government to provide a clear political and legal assessment of what it described as Russia’s annexation efforts and to mobilize international partners against the process.
Based on the statement, the party had previously urged the authorities to take legislative action and support international efforts aimed at countering annexation. However, it claims that the government failed to respond and did not support a parliamentary resolution proposed by the opposition condemning annexation.
“Against the backdrop of the Georgian Dream government’s complete inaction, Russia is now appointing its own public official to a leading position within the Tskhinvali regime, which amounts to the establishment of direct rule by Moscow over Georgia’s occupied territory,” the statement said.
The party also criticized the ruling government for what it described as weakening relations with Georgia’s strategic partners and remaining silent on developments in the occupied territories.
In addition, ‘For Georgia’ called on the government to clarify its position regarding claims made by the occupation regime over the village of Chorchana and to explain whether it plans to dismantle the Georgian police checkpoint located there.
The party urged both parliament and the government to take a firmer stance against what it called Russia’s ongoing annexation of Georgian territories, warning that silence and inaction effectively aid the occupying power.
