Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgia has appealed to the European Union to assess the actions of Russia on creating the so-called 'administrative border' with the Tskhinvali region of Georgia.

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani made this call at a meeting with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Philippe Lefort, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

Zalkaliani stated that these actions violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the principles of international law and the ceasefire agreement between Georgia and Russia dated August 12, 2008, the ministry said.

Establishing barbwire along the Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia is a test of patience of the Georgian authorities, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said on July 15.

According to Alasania, the Georgian side has repeatedly expressed outrage due to the actions of the Russian border guards in South Ossetia and a relevant note was issued to Russia.

Tbilisi believes establishing barbwire, which sometimes goes deep into Georgia, is a violation of the territorial integrity of the country and restricts the rights of citizens to travel.

Last week EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, who visited Tbilisi, promised that the actions in the territories of the breakaway regions will be discussed during a meeting of the EU-Russia commission.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.