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Georgia's Foreign Ministry called on Russia to withdraw its military units from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions that unilaterally declared independence from Georgia, marking the 17th anniversary of the 2008 war.
The ministry issued a written statement on Friday on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, also known as the "South Ossetia War."
The statement said Russia attacked Georgia 17 years ago, resulting in the occupation of the country's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions due to the 2008 war.
The ministry stated that Russia has not complied with the ceasefire agreement signed between the two countries on Aug. 12, 2008, and continues taking steps to integrate Georgia's integral regions into Russia's political, economic, military and social systems in violation of international norms.
"Many illegal steps taken recently for this purpose are particularly concerning," the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry called on Russia to abandon recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as so-called independent states and to withdraw its military units from the regions.
The statement also said Russia prevents Georgian citizens displaced from these regions from returning, thereby violating international law standards.
The ministry expressed that the Tbilisi government continues to pursue peaceful policies to end the occupation and the Georgia-Russia conflict through diplomatic methods.
"The Georgian government is taking steps to restore reconciliation and trust between communities divided by the occupation line," the statement said.
War lasted 13 months between 1992-1993 between the Georgian army and Russian-backed Abkhazian separatists.
Conflicts known as the South Ossetia War broke out between Russia and Georgia in 2008. After the war, the Russian-backed Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions declared unilateral independence from Georgia.
Russia recognized the so-called independence of these two regions in 2008, and Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia in response.
After the severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Switzerland assumed a mediating role between the parties.
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