Sergy Kapanadze, Deputy Foreign Minister met with USA, UK, Germany, Italy, France and Netherlands Ambassadors; as well with heads of EUMM and EU Delegation in Georgia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry informs that the meeting was held to inform the aforementioned organizations about the incident which happens on September 7, 2011, at 01:05 pm., when three Russian MI-8 military helicopters breached the Georgian airspace over the Tanie Gorge near the Shatili village.
This is a severe violation of the fundamental principles of international law, as well as sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. The helicopters intruded 3 km deep into the Georgian airspace and circled around the Georgian border police checkpoint for approximately 15 minutes. Afterwards the helicopters left the Georgian airspace.
The Foreign Ministry underlined that this fact is next one violation of August 12, 2008 Cease-Fire Agreement. This violation of Georgia's airspace represents a continuation of Russia's policy aimed at infringing on Georgia's statehood and independence. Such a blatant contravention of international law clearly aims at provoking the adequate response from the Georgian side, and intends to further escalate the security situation on the ground.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expects the international community to both provide a proper assessment of the recent violation of the Georgian airspace by the Russian armed forces and continue to insist on Russia's full implementation of the August 12, 2008 Cease-Fire Agreement along with pressuring it to respect fundamental norms and principles of international law.
