Russia and Georgia Meet in Geneva but Remain at Odds

Following the 67th round of the Geneva International Discussions, Moscow and Tbilisi once again issued diametrically opposed statements. The Russian Foreign Ministry urged Georgia to conclude a legally binding non-use-of-force agreement with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while the Georgian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia continues to deepen cooperation with the authorities of the Tskhinvali region in violation of international law.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement asserted that "practical measures" are necessary to ensure security, including the signing of a non-use-of-force agreement between Georgia and the "two sovereign republics." Moscow believes that such a document "would not only provide tangible momentum to the negotiation process but also make a significant contribution to strengthening stability in the region."

Furthermore, the Russian side criticized the UN General Assembly resolution on internally displaced persons and refugees, which had been initiated by Georgia. Moscow stated that such issues should be discussed exclusively within the framework of the Geneva Discussions, where representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia participate in the negotiations.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry reported that, during the talks, it had expressed concern regarding the agreement on deepening allied cooperation signed on May 9 between Russia and the South Ossetian authorities. Tbilisi described the document as legally null and void, contrary to international law, and an obstacle to constructive dialogue.

The Georgian delegation also reiterated its demand that Russia fulfill its obligations under the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, and raised the issue of the safe return of displaced persons and refugees. "Representatives of Russia and its occupation regimes, in keeping with established practice, walked out of the negotiating table during the discussion of one of the key agenda items—the return of displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories to their homes," the Georgian Foreign Ministry stated.

The next, 68th round of the Geneva International Discussions is scheduled for November 2026, according to the parties involved.

Последние новости
Stavropol Region Resident Sentenced to Correctional Labor for Desecrating Soviet Soldiers' Mass Grave
Society
Stavropol Region Resident Sentenced to Correctional Labor for Desecrating Soviet Soldiers' Mass Grave
14 August 2026

A court in the Stavropol Region sentenced a 40-year-old resident of the village of Staroizobilnenskaya to ten months of correctional labor for desecrating a mass grave of Soviet soldiers.
AI-generated personas supported
Politics
AI-generated personas supported "Georgian Dream": researchers identify 230 suspicious Facebook accounts
14 August 2026

A network of 230 Facebook accounts featuring photos likely generated by neural networks has been discovered in Georgia. These accounts were used to create the appearance of widespread support for the ruling "Georgian Dream" party and its chairman, Irakli Kobakhidze. Researchers from the "Myth Detector" platform reached this conclusion.
17 Ukrainians living for over a year in a basement at the Georgia-Russia border evacuated due to mudslide threat
Human rights
17 Ukrainians living for over a year in a basement at the Georgia-Russia border evacuated due to mudslide threat
14 August 2026

Seventeen Ukrainian citizens, who had been staying for more than a year in the basement of the Georgian "Daryali" checkpoint on the Russian border, were evacuated on August 13 due to the threat of a natural disaster. Following the evacuation, they were not taken away from the border crossing area entirely; instead, they were placed in a truck and transported a few hundred meters to the grounds of a nearby monastery.
The war in Abkhazia, which claimed around 10,000 lives, began 34 years ago
History
The war in Abkhazia, which claimed around 10,000 lives, began 34 years ago
14 August 2026

On August 14, 1992, hostilities broke out in Abkhazia; the conflict lasted over a year and became one of the most severe in Georgia's modern history. On that day, Georgian units entered the self-proclaimed Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, crossing from the direction of the Inguri River. Tbilisi justified the deployment of the National Guard by citing the need to protect railway links. However, the advancing Georgian column encountered armed resistance from Abkhaz forces.