Tbilisi Demands Russian Withdrawal from Akhalgori, Kodori

Tbilisi demands that Russia fully meet its commitment under the six-point ceasefire agreement and withdraw its forces from the Akhalgori district and the Upper Kodori Gorge to pre-war positions, Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili said on October 9.

Both territories were controlled by Tbilisi before the August war.

Tkeshelashvili described the withdrawal of Russian forces from the areas adjacent to breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia as “important.” 

“This is an initial process, which should continue until the ceasefire agreement is fulfilled completely,” she said. “The August 6 status quo should be restored, which means the jurisdiction of the central authorities should be restored in Akhalgori.”

In response, Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh said that neither Abkhaz nor Russian forces would leave the Kodori Gorge.

“We plan to reinforce the border with Georgia, including in the area of the Kodori Gorge of Abkhazia,” Interfax news agency quoted Bagapsh as saying on October 9.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)