Russia is attempting to reinforce the occupation regime it established in the Tskhinvali region and move closer to the de facto annexation of Georgian territories. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee and an MP from the "Georgian Dream" party, made this statement at the 33rd annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's General Committee on Political Affairs and Security.

The politician thanked the report's authors for including the issue of the Russian occupation of Georgian territories in the document agreed upon in Vienna. He noted that this is of particular importance, given that the country has been living under occupation for more than three decades.

Samkharadze specifically addressed the so-called "Treaty on Deepening Allied Cooperation," signed by Russia and the South Ossetian authorities this past May.

"First of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur for the report presented, as well as for including the issue of the Russian Federation's occupation of Georgian territories in the document we agreed upon in Vienna. This is of immense importance, as Georgia has been living under occupation for over 30 years.

In this regard, we wish to strongly condemn the so-called 'Treaty on Deepening Allied Cooperation' signed this May between the Russian Federation and so-called South Ossetia. This document constitutes a gross violation of international law and represents yet another desperate attempt by Moscow to strengthen the occupation regime and facilitate the de facto annexation of territories that the international community recognizes as an integral part of Georgia," the politician stated.