Tbilisi (GBC) – At the latest round of the Geneva International Discussions, the Georgian delegation strongly protested the so-called agreement signed between Russia and the Tskhinvali occupation regime. According to Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation expressed deep concern over the so-called allied cooperation agreement signed on May 9 and its rapid implementation.
The Georgian side stressed that such illegal actions are null and void, constitute a gross violation of international law, and undermine efforts to achieve constructive dialogue.
During the talks, the Georgian delegation reiterated the need for the full implementation of the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement and the safe, dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes. The delegation also raised concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied regions and called for the unconditional restoration of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali.
According to the Ministry, representatives of Russia and the occupation regimes once again left the negotiating table when the issue of the return of refugees and IDPs was raised, continuing what Tbilisi described as their longstanding destructive approach.
The 68th round of the Geneva International Discussions is scheduled to take place on November 10–11, 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the so-called South Ossetian leader Alan Gagloev signed the so-called agreement on deepening cooperation on May 9, 2026, and Russia’s State Duma ratified the document just four days later, on May 13.
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili condemned the move during the 135th Session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on May 15, stating that the Kremlin was once again disregarding its international obligations and taking further steps toward the annexation of Georgia’s occupied regions.
Shortly after the signing of the so-called agreement, it was announced on June 23 that Alan Gagloev had stepped down as the so-called president of the occupied Tskhinvali region and had been appointed an adviser to the Russian president. Earlier, the so-called prime minister had also been replaced by Marat Kambolov, a representative of Russia’s Republic of North Ossetia. According to some analysts, these appointments indicate Moscow’s efforts to tighten its direct control over the occupied region.
