On August 8, 2009 the Georgian Association organizied a peaceful protest by the Russian Embassy to remember the victims of the Russian military attacks on Georgia one year ago.
In August 2008, in violation of the U.N. Charter, the Russian government invaded and occupied the sovereign Georgian territory. Russian forces committed and encouraged human rights violations, including ethnic cleansing against people of Georgian descent in the occupied territories. Under no circumstances should such actions be tolerated by the international community.
The Georgian Association in the United States, Inc. calls on the United States Government to continue its policy of open support for Georgias territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders, which include Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The United States must act, and demand withdrawal of Russian occupational forces from Georgia.
The limited EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, which oversees the August 12, 2008 peace agreement brokered between Georgia and Russia by French President Sarkozy, is now the only security mechanism on the ground. We urge the United States to support the strengthening of this mechanism. The EU Monitoring Mission should be enlarged and must be allowed to work inside the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia. This will enhance the security of local populations and help prevent further provocations.