Georgia said on Tuesday (29 May) it had started procedures to sever diplomatic relations with Syria after Damascus recognised its breakaway regions as independent states, a move Tbilisi dubbed manipulation from Russia.
Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war in August 2008. The conflict saw Russian troops repel an assault on the breakaway pro-Russian region of South Ossetia, which broke free from Tbilisi’s rule in the early 1990s.
Georgia Severs Relations With Syria For Recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia https://t.co/CNQdmq9FH0
— The Grey Line 01 (@RRISC01) May 30, 2018
Russia later recognised South Ossetia and Georgia’s second breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent states. Russia has thousands of troops stationed in both regions.
Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru have also recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia, backed by the United States and European Union, said the Russian operation was a naked land grab.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that recognition of its breakaway regions by Syria was an illegal move and disregarded international law.
“With this act the Assad regime declared its support for Russia’s military aggression against Georgia, the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions (South Ossetia) and the ethnic cleansing that has been taking place for years,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the international community to duly assess the illegal decision of the Assad regime made as a result of manipulation by the Russian Federation and to undertake the relevant steps in response.”
With this act the Assad regime declared its support for #Russia's military aggression against #Georgia, illegal occupation of #Abkhazia & #Tskhinvali reg-s & ethnic cleansing that has been taking place for years – Amb @kahaimnadze w/press on #Syria's recognition of s/c indepndnce pic.twitter.com/DUTb58bj8M
— GeorgiaUN (@GeorgiaUN) May 29, 2018
“The Russian-occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are integral parts of Georgia, and we continue to support Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial …..U.S. State Department: Syrian Recognition of Abkhazia, S.Ossetia ‘Ill-advised’ https://t.co/aPIsZrbTTD
— Irakli Kavtaradze (@IrakliKavtarad) May 30, 2018
Showing solidarity with #Georgia -who, like #Ukraine, bombed those territories it claims as its own- Klimkin condemned #Syria for recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia. https://t.co/93w4Pbds7j
— Nahia Sanzo (@nsanzo) May 30, 2018