BRUSSELS — NATO has criticized Russia for expanding its border deeper into Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, a move Moscow has portrayed as a temporary step to expand a security zone around the Sochi Winter Olympics.
"We have noted the recent decision to temporarily extend the so-called border zone of Abkhazia further into Georgian territory without the Georgian government's consent," NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
"We are very concerned about that decision," he told a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday after talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgia condemned Russia last month for shifting its boundary with Georgia 11 kilometers deeper into Abkhazia, calling it an "illegal action" that violates Georgian sovereignty. Russia says it is a temporary step to create a security buffer around the Olympics in Sochi, which is close to Abkhazia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
