U.S. Congressmen Travel to Occupation Line

Republican Congressmen from the United States, Adam Kinzinger and Alexander Mooney, who are visiting Georgia on November 5-9, traveled to the line of occupation near village Odzisi adjacent to Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia today.

Congressman Kinzinger said the U.S. will never recognize “illegal occupation” of Georgia. “We will never recognize that this is Russian territory; this is rightfully Georgia’s territory,” he told journalists, adding that this is the position of the United States.

The Congressman said, the U.S. is aware of the process of ‘borderization’, as well as of “the abuse of citizens behind the illegally occupied territory.” “It just really brings home in the reality of how illegal this is, how bad player Russia is,” Kinzinger said, noting that it “will never be recognized” anywhere.

Speaking of the closure of crossing points connecting the region with Georgia proper, Kinzigner said “denying legal citizens the right to move within Georgian territory is illegal, and should be illegal.” He then stressed “the difference” between the Western world and Georgia on one hand and Russia on the other, with the latter preventing free movement of citizens “in land that’s theirs,” while the former embraces freedom. 

“The U.S. will never recognize Russia’s presence as a legal presence. It is an illegal presence… We have to make it very clear that Georgia’s an ally with the U.S., we need to bring Georgia immediately and soon into NATO, and we’re gonna continue to take that message back to our NATO partners,” Kinzinger stated.

The fellow Congressman, Alexander Mooney, also told journalists that he arrived to Georgia because he shares “concern about security and peace in this world.” According to him, the U.S. “is watching, paying attention” to what’s happening in the country.

As part of their visit to Georgia, the two Republican Congressmen met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze. Earlier this week, Congressman Kinzinger addressed the 13th Defense and Security Conference held in the city of Batumi, on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. The U.S. Congressmen visited Batumi and Poti ports together with Tornike Rizhvadze, the Head of the Government of Autonomous Republic of Adjara as well.

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