Lithuanian leaders voice support for Georgia on 15th anniversary of Russian invasion

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on Monday expressed support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, on the 15th anniversary of Russia's invasion of the South Caucasus country.

Fifteen years after the invasion, Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions remain occupied by Russia.

"Lithuania condemns Russia's occupation of Georgia's territory 15 years ago. We have always supported Georgia's sovereignty & territorial integrity," President Gitanas Nauseda posted on the X social media platform.

"Today, Ukraine is defending its freedom from the same aggressor. We call on Russia to withdraw its forces from territories of Georgia and Ukraine," he wrote.

Moscow launched its invasion of Georgia in 2008 after years of tension over Tbilisi's efforts to forge closer ties with the West. 

"15y ago Russia invaded Georgia and got away with it," Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte posted on X. "Ever more brutal acts of Russian aggression followed."   

"Lithuania's support to Georgia's territorial integrity & sovereignty is unwavering. So is our certitude that the only way towards secure Europe is through Ukraine's victory & a tribunal for the aggressors," she added.

In the wake of the five-day war, which claimed hundreds of lives, Russia deployed its forces in Georgia's separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Kremlin recognized the independence of the two breakaway territories after a ceasefire brokered by the European Union.

Tbilisi and the West condemned Russia's move as an illegal military occupation.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia account for around 20 percent of Georgia's territory.