STATEMENT OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION "On the impermissibility of violating universal principles and norms of international humanitarian law with regard to the impoverished population of Abkhazia"

In connection with the Russian Federation's blockade against Abkhazia in the interests of ensuring the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation notes the following:

1. The Russian Federation recognizes and respects the territorial integrity of any state, but it can protect such territorial integrity only by concluding an international agreement of the Russian Federation in strict accordance with the constitutional procedures of ratification.

2. The Russian Federation cannot individually or jointly with member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States introduce sanctions in the form of coercive measures (including a blockade) against one side in an international armed conflict or a non-international armed conflict without a decision by the United Nations Security Council. The UN Security Council has not passed such a decision on this conflict.

3. The Russian Federation, by taking the side of the Republic of Georgia in this conflict, is violating the terms of its peacekeeping function approved by both sides of the conflict.

4. The limit and ban of trade and economic relations, financial operations, transport and other economic ties, in which the Russian Federation is a participant, and the turning off of telegraph and telephone communication, and the cessation of mail services are arbitrary measures. Those who suffer the most from these measures are the civilians of Abkhazia - people of various ethnic backgrounds and citizenship, including Russian citizens. This is a flagrant violation of universal principles and norms of international humanitarian law.

5. The blockade and the harsh restrictions on communications by one side in the conflict, especially in the absence of military action, in the context of decisions by the heads of state of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States passed on January 19, 1996 and March 28, 1997, signify the entry of the Russian Federation into the conflict. This could start a more acute phase in which "contingents of civilian police" are used unilaterally in the conflict zone or attempts are made to expand the "security zone" far into Abkhazia. This would inevitably lead to human losses, and negative moral and material consequences for the Russian Federation.

Due to the above, the State Duma supports the May 15, 1997 appeal (No. 166-SF) by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the President of the Russian Federation, and a similar statement (of April 4, 1997) by the State Council-Khasse of the Republic of Adygeya, to the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the State Duma, and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. In this context, the State Duma declares the need to end the blockade of Abkhazia by the Government of the Russian Federation, which is not in the interests of Russia, and violates the Constitution of the Russian Federation and universal principles and norms of international humanitarian law, which are an integral part of the legal system of the Russian Federation.

Moscow, June 24, 1997

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