Georgian speaker criticizes EU over unimplemented 2008 ceasefire agreement and sanctions

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the European Union of applying double standards in its response to Russian aggression, pointing to the unimplemented ceasefire deal that ended the 2008 war and the lack of sanctions against Moscow at the time. His remarks come as the country marks 17 years since the brief but consequential conflict.

Speaking at an event commemorating the war, Papuashvili said that while Ukraine received swift and extensive Western support following Russia’s 2022 invasion, Georgia’s case was met with political statements but little tangible action. “The EU did not fully enforce the ceasefire agreement it brokered and failed to impose sanctions, even as Russian troops remained in our territories,” he noted.

The six-point agreement, mediated by then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, called for an immediate halt to fighting, the withdrawal of forces to pre-war positions, and unhindered humanitarian access. While Georgia complied with its obligations, Russian forces remain stationed in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Over the years, the occupation lines have been reinforced through a process known as “borderisation.”

Papuashvili argued that the absence of sanctions in 2008 emboldened Moscow and undermined the credibility of international agreements. He said this failure continues to affect regional security and Georgia’s trust in its partners.

This year’s anniversary coincides with Georgia’s push for closer ties with the European Union. Officials in Tbilisi are urging Brussels to translate political support into concrete measures, insisting that honoring past commitments is essential for stability in the South Caucasus.

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