The United States has refrained from condemning Russia at the UN Security Council over its actions during the August 2008 war in Georgia, according to the newspaper Kommersant. This marks the first time since 2008 that Washington has not joined a joint statement by several Council members affirming support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The declaration was endorsed by European states currently on the Security Council, including the United Kingdom, France, Slovenia, Denmark, and Greece. The statement drew parallels between the continued presence of Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and war in Ukraine, reaffirming support for Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.
Responding to the initiative, Russia’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, argued that those backing such declarations were “interested in turning Georgia into a pawn solely for their own geopolitical interests.” The conflict erupted on August 8, 2008, when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia.
Russia intervened to protect local residents, many of whom held Russian citizenship, as well as its peacekeepers. The five-day conflict claimed over 1,000 lives, including 72 Russian servicemen.
