Four NATO countries have warned of the threat of Russia’s annexation of South Ossetia
8 August 14:07
The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France—all NATO member countries—have expressed concern over Russia’s actions in the partially recognized South Ossetia. A statement on this matter, marking the 18th anniversary of the start of “Russia’s illegal invasion of Georgia,” was published on the British government’s website, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“We remember the grave consequences of Russian imperialism. On this day in 2008, the Russian Federation launched military operations against Georgia, further undermining its territorial integrity by occupying the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” the statement reads.
The signatory countries also emphasized that the Russian Federation’s May agreement with the de facto authorities of South Ossetia constitutes a “clear violation of international law.” This refers to a bilateral treaty “on deepening allied cooperation,” which, among other things, provides for the “harmonization” of the parties’ legal systems and the expansion of defense cooperation.
“This document, as well as the appointment of a Russian citizen as head of the region, raises concerns about a possible full-scale annexation of the region, which will not go unanswered,” the statement said.
In June, Marat Kambolov, former director of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center—which is headed by Mikhail Kovalchuk, a friend of dictator Vladimir Putin —became head of South Ossetia.
The new prime minister and acting president of South Ossetia—which most countries consider an occupied territory following Russia’s war with Georgia—is tasked with “ensuring the effective implementation of the provisions of the signed treaty and all agreements reached between Russia-South Ossetian agreements.”
Georgian opposition forces also characterized the agreement with Moscow as “the de facto annexation of the region.”
Kambolov was born in North Ossetia in 1965. He held leadership positions in several Russian government agencies, including serving as Deputy Minister of Education. In 2014, he began working at the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, which is controlled by one of Putin’s closest associates. In 2015, he became vice president of the organization, and he has headed it since 2021. “VChK OGPU” described Kambolov as “an extremely private figure.”
Berlin, London, Paris, and Rome once again called on Moscow to comply with the August 2008 ceasefire agreement and condemned the deployment of Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The signatories reaffirmed that they consider both regions to be a legitimate part of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
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