Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and Georgia

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Country/entity: Georgia
Russia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and Georgia
Date: 17 Nov 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - )
The Abkhazia-Georgia Conflict (1992 - )
Much like other conflicts that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazia conflict emerged as an ethnic conflict following heighten nationalist awareness among Abkhaz and other minorities residing in the region. In 1978, protests against the Georgianization of Abkhazia emerged from Abkhaz intellectuals. Towards the end of the 1980s, both Georgian and Abkhaz nationalists demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Tensions began following clashes at Sukhumi University between pro-Unity protestors and Abkhaz nationalists in April-July 1989. However, the conflict remained a legal conflict up until August 1992 following the 1991 elections, wherein Abkhazians felt they were under-represented. War broke out between Abkhaz separatists, supported by Russian forces and hired fighters from the North Caucus. Within Abkhazia, Abkhaz separatists were generally supported by ethnically Armenian and Russian residents. Within Georgia the conflict was exacerbated following conflict in South Ossetia from 1989 onwards in addition to political strife between the supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakurdia, and the post-coup government led by Eduard Shevardnadze.

Significant human rights abuses occurred, particularly after the capture of Sukhumi in September 1993, after which Georgian residents, which consisted of 45 per cent of the population in 1989, were faced with mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing. Russian Peacekeepers acting under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were deployed on the Abkhazia-Georgia line following a ceasefire in 1994. Atrocities towards ethnic Georgian’s continued with over 1,500 deaths post-conflict. In 1998 fighting re-erupted following a flare up of fighting in South Ossetia. Again it was resolved with a ceasefire agreement. However, as of 2016 the conflict remains unresolved.

The Russio-Georgian War (South Ossetia) (1989 - )
Following heightened nationalist awareness among Ossetians and policies undertaken at the expense of ethnic minorities by the Georgian government led by President Gamsakurdia, calls for Ossetian Independence increased. After clashes broke out in Tskhinvali during a pro-Georgia protest, the conflict began to militarize. When President Gamsakurdia maintained his position after elections in 1990, which were boycotted by South Ossetia, Ossetians organised elections for their own parliament. The central Georgian government reacted by abolishing the autonomous status previously held by South Ossetia. The formation of ethnic militias and increased attacks on civilians escalated on both sides and in December 1990 a state of emergency and an economic blockade were declared. Fighting was haphazard as fighters on both sides were poorly equipped and disciplined. The Georgian National Guard was primarily formed of volunteers due to a lack of resources and as a result fighters often acted out of self-interest. Assaults on Tskhinvali by Georgian forces were repulsed on several occasions, and Georgian forces were also noted to expel Ossetian residents and destroy villages out of revenge and as a means to re-claim territory.

The Sochi agreement (1992) established a ceasefire and security corridor, as well as divided the territory between Georgian and Ossetian administration. Relations deteriorated drastically in April 2008, and following shelling of Georgian villages on August 1, the Georgian military responded in force retaking most of Tskhinvali by August 7. Russian forces intervened on behalf of Ossetian separatists and after retaking Tskihvali, opened another front in the Kordori Gorge. A ceasefire was brokered on August 12, and the Kremlin declared its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. Russian forces have since strengthened their military presence in those regions in violation of the ceasefire.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Abkhazia peace process
Parties: Republic of Georgia; Russian Federation
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement facilitates the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia, to be facilitated by Georgia. Allows temporary use and dual usage of existing military installations.

Agreement document: GE_RU_991117_Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and Georgia.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1, Untitled preamble,
Reaffirming their intention to fully implement provisions stipulated in the adapted Treaty on CFE [Decision of the Joint Consultative Group on adaptation of Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) of March 30 1999]
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
1. The Russian Federation commits itself to reduce, no later than December 31, 2000, the level of its conventional forces, deployed on the territory of Georgia, so that total number of armaments shall not exceed 153 tanks, 241 combat infantry vehicles (CIV), and 140 artillery systems.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 2. ... The Russian military bases located in Gudauta and Vaziani shall be disbanded and withdrawn from the territory of Georgia no later than July 1, 2001.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 3. The Georgian Side undertakes to grant the Russian Side a right of temporary deployment of its military equipment in the military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 4. The Georgian Side shall promote the process of creation of necessary conditions for reduction and withdrawal of Russian armed forces. In this regard, the Parties express the readiness of OSCE member-States to render financial support to that process.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
1. The Russian Federation commits itself to reduce, no later than December 31, 2000, the level of its conventional forces, deployed on the territory of Georgia, so that total number of armaments shall not exceed 153 tanks, 241 combat infantry vehicles (CIV), and 140 artillery systems.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 2. No later than December 31, 2000 the Russian Federation shall withdraw its military equipment and weaponry from the Russian military bases deployed in Vaziani, Gudauta and repair utilities located in Tbilisi.
The Russian military bases located in Gudauta and Vaziani shall be disbanded and withdrawn from the territory of Georgia no later than July 1, 2001.
Within the same time-framework, an issue related to utilization, including joint utilization of the remained military objects and infrastructure of disbanded military bases shall be resolved.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 4. The Georgian Side shall promote the process of creation of necessary conditions for reduction and withdrawal of Russian armed forces. In this regard, the Parties express the readiness of OSCE member-States to render financial support to that process.

Page 1, Reached an agreement on the following:
... 5. Within 2000, the Parties shall complete the negotiation process on time-terms of withdrawal and pattern of functioning of military bases located in Batumi and Akhalkalaki and other military utilities on the territory of Georgia.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archive; http://www.rrc.ge/law/stat_1999_11_17_e.htm
Originally from, Abkhaz Issue in Official Documents, Legislative and Executive organs of Georgia, International Organizations, 1989-1999, part II, 1995-1999; authors: Vakhtang Kholbaia, Teimuraz Chakhrakia, Rafiel Gelantia, David Latsuzbaia, Tb., 2000, p. 332 /in Georgian.

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND GEORGIA

The Russian Federation and Georgia,

Being guided by articles of 14.2.3 and 14.2.7 of the Decision of the Joint Consultative Group on adaptation of Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) of March 30 1999,

Reaffirming their intention to fully implement provisions stipulated in the adapted Treaty on CFE,

Seeking to promote the process of development and strengthening of cooperative relations between the Russian Federation and Georgia,

Reached an agreement on the following:

1. The Russian Federation commits itself to reduce, no later than December 31, 2000, the level of its conventional forces, deployed on the territory of Georgia, so that total number of armaments shall not exceed 153 tanks, 241 combat infantry vehicles (CIV), and 140 artillery systems.

2. No later than December 31, 2000 the Russian Federation shall withdraw its military equipment and weaponry from the Russian military bases deployed in Vaziani, Gudauta and repair utilities located in Tbilisi.

The Russian military bases located in Gudauta and Vaziani shall be disbanded and withdrawn from the territory of Georgia no later than July 1, 2001.

Within the same time-framework, an issue related to utilization, including joint utilization of the remained military objects and infrastructure of disbanded military bases shall be resolved.

3. The Georgian Side undertakes to grant the Russian Side a right of temporary deployment of its military equipment in the military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki.

4. The Georgian Side shall promote the process of creation of necessary conditions for reduction and withdrawal of Russian armed forces.

In this regard, the Parties express the readiness of OSCE member-States to render financial support to that process.

5. Within 2000, the Parties shall complete the negotiation process on time-terms of withdrawal and pattern of functioning of military bases located in Batumi and Akhalkalaki and other military utilities on the territory of Georgia.

Istanbul, 17 November 1999