Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 April / Trend corr. K.Ramazanova / Georgia blames Russia for interfering into interior affairs of another state.
"To support the unrecognized Abkhaz and South Ossetia republics by Russia is an invasion of another state's territory," Dmitriy Manjavisze, Deputy State Minister of Georgia on Reintegration issues, stated Trend .
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, advised the Government to support Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 17 April. Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement that a mechanism of comprehensive protection of rights, freedom and legal interests of Russian citizens residing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be created.
According to Manjivadze, the issues regarding the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have no grounds and are fruitless. "We will try to prevent such actions until the end. However, the results of the process do not depend on us," he said.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary-General, expressed his concern at the statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Scheffer noted that the allies supported the territorial integrity of Georgia during the summit in Bucharest.
" Russia's steps are to establish ties with unrecognized republics and undermine the sovereignty of the country,' NATO Secretary-General stated and called Moscow not to take these steps.
Washington also supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and presently is to disclose the sense of the new actions of Russia towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Union has already expressed its support to Georgia and recognizes its territorial integrity.
Eduard Kokoyti, President of South Ossetia, reported that the Russian President's statement is the one fair decision in which to save the lives of Russian citizens residing in the unrecognized republics.
Abkhazia, united in the Georgia SSR, announced its independence after the collapse of the SSSR. In August 1992, Georgia deployed its troops in Abkhazia, but faced military resistance. As a result Georgia lost control over Abkhazia on 30 August 1993. Since then, Abkhazia is trying to reclaim its independence.
During the SSSR South Ossetia has the status of autonomy province within Georgia. In 1991, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, First president, abolished the autonomy. However, the residents of South Ossetia demonstrated armed resistance to the Georgian authorities. As a result of the conflict Georgia lost control over South Ossetia in 1992.
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