Representatives of Georgian civil society have issued an open appeal to international organizations, declaring what they believe is an intensification of Russia's annexation policy in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The document has been sent to the UN, the European Union, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), the OSCE, and NATO.
Representatives of Georgian civil society have issued an open appeal to international organizations, declaring what they believe is an intensification of Russia's annexation policy in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The document has been sent to the UN, the European Union, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), the OSCE, and NATO.
The appeal was signed by former ministers, diplomats, military officials, experts, and representatives of various political circles. The authors of the document state that Moscow's ongoing policy toward the two regions poses a threat to Georgia's sovereignty and the security of the entire region.
According to the signatories, a number of decisions taken in recent years demonstrate the gradual implementation of this policy. In particular, they point to the agreement on "deepening allied cooperation" signed on May 9, 2026, by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the de facto leader of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev. According to the authors of the appeal, the document creates a legal basis for the transfer of real estate and other resources to Russian citizens and strengthens the region's integration into Russia's political, economic, and infrastructural system.
The appeal specifically mentions the appointment of Russian official Marat Kambolov as the so-called Prime Minister of South Ossetia. According to the signatories, this step indicates the de facto transfer of the region under the direct control of the Russian Federation.
The authors of the document also note the intensification of annexation processes in Abkhazia. They assess that the harmonization of local legislation with Russian law, the opening of the real estate market to Russian capital, and the coordination of these processes by the Russian presidential administration, headed by Sergei Kiriyenko, indicate the gradual legal and economic absorption of the region. The signatories express particular concern over the transformation of the port of Ochamchire into a military staging area for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. They also point to threats against Tbilisi, which they believe create additional security risks for the entire Black Sea region.
