Photo credit: Adam & Costey and Archive
To mark the 16 years of Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia in August 2008, H.E. Ms. Tea MAISURADZE the Ambassador of Georgia to the Czech Republic organized a Georgian movie screening in cooperation with the Prague Municipal Library.
You can watch part of the Ambassador’s speech and read the full text below.
Honorable Guests,
Your Excellences,
Dear Representatives of the Georgian diaspora,
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank you for joining us today.
16 years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression in Georgia.
In August 2008, Moscow started its premeditated and thoroughly calculated aggression. Russia’s 58th Army crossed the international border of Georgia and started the large-scale attack against the sovereign country on land, at sea, by air and via cyberspace.
Russian aviation conducted 43 strikes; dropped 165 bombs and missiles, including cluster bombs, banned by international conventions; Russia bombed more than 20 cities and villages throughout the whole territory of Georgia, including Tbilisi, the capital city and Kutaisi, the second largest city; 412 Georgians were killed, including civilians and journalists; 1747 wounded; 125 villages additionally occupied; 53 Georgian villages cleansed; 35 000 houses destroyed and burnt; 130 000 became IDPs and refugees, in addition to those people, who had to flee from their homes in early 90’s during the two wars orchestrated by Russia in the regions of Georgia – Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russian aggression lasted for 5 days and it was supposed to be ended by the Ceasefire agreement, mediated by the EU, signed by Russia and Georgia.
But, remaining in breach with the principles and norms of International law and the Ceasefire agreement, aggression was followed by the illegal recognition of the so-called independence of the regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia.
16 years after, we still face the ongoing Russian military occupation of more than 20 percent of the territory of Georgia, grave humanitarian situation persists in the occupied territories, including killings, kidnappings, illegal detentions and torture which unfortunately became an ordinary activity, Russian installed barbed-wire and razor-wire fences exceed 100 km, 450 000 IDPs and refugees are unable to return to their homes, the places of their original residence.
While Georgia was the first, Russia’s bloody aggression has continued in Ukraine. And now, when our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are fighting for freedom and independence, defending European security and our common values, the primary goal is to stand consolidated in line with the principles of International law to protect the rules based international order.
I would like to once again reiterate gratitude to the Czech Republic and our Czech friends, and to the whole civilized world for their unwavering and strong support towards the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We all acknowledge that supporting Georgia and supporting Ukraine is defending the rules based international order and staying in line with International Law.
Today, we are presenting the movie on Russian military invasion of Georgia in 2008. The story of the film is based on real events. Shindisi is a name of the vilage where Russian occupation forces sieged Georgian militaries after a peace corridor was promised.
The film directed by Georgian Dito Tsintsadze was Oscar nominated in 2020. The film has been screened at many international film festivals.
Thank you once again for your attendance.
