Moscow: Saakashvili’s regime “cynically violated” int’l law, “attacked S. Ossetia” in 2008

On the night of August 7-8, 2008, Mikheil Saakashvili’s regime cynically violated all international agreements on the peaceful settlement of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict and carried out an unprovoked attack on South Ossetia, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday, on the 15th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war. 

Russia, which is now involved in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claimed that the “criminal adventure” had resulted in “many civilian victims and deaths among the Russian military”. 

“Russia was ‘forced’ to conduct an operation to ensure peace”, Zakharova said, adding Moscow on August 26, 2008 recognised the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as “independent states”. 

“Moscow is sure that sustainable security can be achieved only if a legally binding agreement on non-use of force is signed between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia”, she added. 

Only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have joined the illegal recognition of Georgian regions as independent republics since 2008, while the rest of the international community has been urging Russia to meet the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement and withdraw its troops from historic Georgian lands.