The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issued a statement on August 22, expressing protest over the recent visit of the representatives of the Russian-backed Abkhaz authorities to Syria.

The Ministry called the visit “a continuation of the policy of provocation towards Georgia by Russia and its occupation regimes,” adding that with such actions “Russia is unsuccessfully trying to legitimize the occupation regimes and legalize forceful changes of a sovereign nation’s borders.” 

“We call on all sovereign states to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia and its sovereign rights, and to avoid participating in [such pre-]planned provocative actions,” reads the statement.

The Ministry also noted that it had already communicated regarding this issue with “diplomatic representatives of Syria,” as well as Georgia’s foreign partners. 

The Abkhaz authorities travelled to Syria on August 16-22, meeting several high-level officials, including Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Economy Minister Samer al-Khalil and Chairman of the People’ Council (parliament) Najdat Anzour. 

Sokhumi representatives reported in their press releases of the meetings that the region’s Moscow-backed authorities expressed their wish for further development of relations with Damascus and invited Syrians to send a delegation of their own to Abkhazia. 

In Syria, the Abkhaz visitors also attended the Damascus International Fair, where the materials demonstrating the region’s culture and economy were presented in a separate booth.