"We are deeply concerned about the so-called partnership and integration agreement between Russia and South Ossetia," President Giorgi Margvelashvili said.
Margvelashvili said that despite Georgian government’s endeavors to find rational solutions and to establish bilateral relations, Russia was allegedly taking “devastating steps” that he said were "puzzling and worrisome."
He called on the international community to prevent Russia from carrying out such acts, which, he said, threatened not only neighboring countries, but the security of Europe itself.
Georgian foreign minister also issued a statement Wednesday and condemned the threat. "Georgia condemns the agreement which disregards the country`s sovereignty and territorial unity. The agreement provides Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region with Russia`s full military, political, economic and administrative integration," the statement said.
According to the agreement, Russia and South Ossetia would also cooperate on free crossings on borders, integration of customs and simplification of transition to Russian citizenship.
The agreement between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia was signed for 25 years, with the possibility of subsequent ten-year extensions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his South Ossetian counterpart David Sanakoev had signed a treaty on Feb. 18, 2015, that established international borders between Russia and the republic.
South Ossetia received Russian recognition as an independent country on Aug. 26, 2008, when Moscow also recognized the neighboring breakaway Republic of Abkhazia.
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