The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation issued statements on 29 April 2008 warning that the Russian Federation will increase the contingent of the collective peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia, Georgia.
Georgia has repeatedly emphasized that Russia's armed contingent is a major factor of destabilization in the conflict zones. Build-up of Russian troops in Abkhazia, Georgia involves an extremely dangerous provocation, which increases the risk of escalation to an alarming extent and poses a serious threat to international peace and security.
Georgia maintains that Russia's deployment of additional troops on the territory of Abkhazia under the guise of CIS collective peacekeeping forces contradicts the decisions adopted within the CIS framework and the universally recognized norms and principles of international law.
The status and the scope of competences of the collective peacekeeping forces are regulated by the 22 August 1994 Decision of the CIS Council of Heads of State. The first paragraph of this Decision stipulates that 'plan on deployment of collective forces shall be agreed in accordance with the 1994 Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces'. The Moscow Agreement is based on the commitments that are in line with the universally recognized principles of international law and reflected in established practice for peacekeeping operations, which specify that peacekeeping operation may take place exclusively with the consent of a state concerned. This consent implies not only general acceptance of the operation but also approval for the implementation of distinct actions within the mandate, for which such consent of a sovereign state is a sine qua non. This, on its part, is in keeping with the UN Charter and the principles of sovereign equality of states, territorial integrity of states, inviolability of borders and non-interference in internal affairs of states.
It is with due consideration of the foregoing that the 22 August 1994 Decision of the CIS Council of Heads of State and the 1994 Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces determine the mandate of peacekeepers and the geographical area of their operation. The Moscow Agreement, and in particular its Article 2(f), and the protocol thereto clearly define the territory where peacekeepers enjoy the freedom of movement. In all other cases, respectively, any movement of peacekeepers as well as the setting up of an additional number of checkpoints and deployment of contingent requires Georgia's consent. The stationing of armed contingent on the territory of Abkhazia under the mandate of collective peacekeeping forces, without consent of Georgia, will hence be considered as infringement of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.
The arguments provided by the Russian side to justify the need of increasing its contingent are totally baseless given that the Georgian side complies unequivocally with its commitments and the actions undertaken by it are in full compliance with international law and the 17 May 1994 Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and Separation of Forces. Russia's use of such arguments for deploying additional troops suggests that the Russian Federation is being transformed into a party to the conflict and its actions, rather than contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region, represent infringement of sovereignty of the neighbouring state.
The Georgian side urges the Russian Federation to abstain from taking such actions. Otherwise these steps will be assessed as an act of aggression and a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international law.
Tbilisi, 30 April 2008