Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) political situation in (i) Abkhazia and (ii) South Ossetia.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We closely monitor the political and security situation in the breakaway regions of Georgia. In statements at the UN, Council of Europe and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the UK has repeatedly condemned Russia's illegal presence and 'borderisation' tactics, as well as the Russification of the regions, including through the proposed Russian naval base at Ochamchire and through economic means. The UK fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in the face of continued hybrid aggression from Russia.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he last discussed (a) civil and (b) political rights with his Georgian counterpart.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK has worked to support the development of an open, democratic society in Georgia for many years. The Minister of state for Europe discussed issues relating to civil and political rights with the Georgian Ambassador most recently on 2 and 14 May. Her predecessor raised these and a range of other issues with Georgian counterparts during a visit to Tbilisi in November 2023.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) stability of the Caucasus region.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the three states that make up the South Caucasus region. The UK welcomes recent peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the agreed progress on the delimitation of their international border. We wish to see a lasting and sustainable peace settlement reached as soon as possible and stand ready to support this process. The UK remains a close supporter of Georgian democracy and Euro-Atlantic aspirations in line with the will of the Georgian people and stands with Georgia against Russian hybrid pressure.
Mentions:
1: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Con - The Cotswolds) We have only to look at what is happening in Georgia at the moment. - Speech Link
2: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) week, I asked the Minister an urgent question on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the situation in Georgia - Speech Link
3: John Healey (Lab - Wentworth and Dearne) Shannon) reminded us about the pattern of military aggression from Russia, not just in Ukraine but in Georgia - Speech Link
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Georgia's Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influence: UK statement to the OSCEFound: Madam Chair, The UK is a close friend of Georgia.
Mentions:
1: None Turning to Georgia, we continue to observe with concern the events in Tbilisi, including yesterday’s - Speech Link
2: Earl of Minto (Con - Excepted Hereditary) While Georgia and Ukraine are separate geopolitical issues, the Georgian people know all too well the - Speech Link
3: Earl of Minto (Con - Excepted Hereditary) We all saw the riots inside and outside the Parliament of Georgia earlier this week. - Speech Link
Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether (a) he and (b) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (i) have made and (ii) plan to make representations to their counterparts in Georgia on the treatment of British and international NGOs ahead of elections in the context of the introduction of the foreign agents bill in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. I [Minister for Europe] discussed this and a range of other issues with the Georgian Ambassador on 17 April and 14 May. In my statement of 14 May, I called on the Georgian Government to withdraw the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and also noted my deep concerns regarding the orchestrated intimidation of demonstrators in Tbilisi. Our Ambassador in Tbilisi has also consistently made our concerns clear to the Georgian authorities, most recently to the Prime Minister on 22 April and President on 4 May.