DISINFO: Russia will not return South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Georgia and the Crimea to Ukraine because this would violate the principle of self-determination of peoples
SUMMARY
Russia will not return South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Georgia and will not return Crimea to Ukraine because this would violate the principle of self-determination of peoples agreed to in Helsinki in 1975.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Crimea.
Although Russia claimed to act only as a “peacekeeper” between Georgia and the two secessionists republics, Russia provided military, financial and logistical support to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, violating the international norms that regulate the behavior of a peacekeeping force within a country.
On the 10th anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, the EU reiterated its firm support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
As for Crimea, no international body recognises the so-called referendum held on 16th of March 2014.