1. Wide exterior of Georgia's foreign ministry 2. Mid of European Union and Georgian flags 3. Set up shot of Alexander Nalbandov, Deputy Foreign Minister, surrounded by journalists 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Nalbandov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia made official statement with regard to the visit of Mr. Putin to the occupied territory of Georgia, namely in Abkhazia. We consider it as yet another provocative act on the part of the Russian Federation, yet another link in the long chain of so-called visits, of hiring Russian officials to the occupied territory of Georgia. We consider it as yet another violation by the Russian side or every single normal principle of international law and international obligations assumed by Russia, in particular and first of all - 6.65 agreement signed with the mediation of the European Union on August 12th, 2008. On the other hand we believe that Russia once again challenges the international community, which is absolutely impermissible, especially on the part of a country which pretends to play a major role in international relationships." 5. Cutaway of Georgian state emblem 6. Wide of journalists around Nalbandov STORYLINE The Georgian foreign ministry on Wednesday sharply criticised Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Abkhazia, a breakaway Georgian region whose unilateral independence was recognised by Moscow last year. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Nalbandov, believed visits by high-ranking Russian officials to the "occupied territory of Georgia" undermined international law. "We believe that Russia once again challenges the international community, which is absolutely impermissible, especially on the part of a country which pretends to play a major role in international relationships," Nalbandov told journalists. Putin visited Abkhazia on Wednesday, vowing to provide economic and military aid. He met officials of the breakaway government in Sukhumi. Putin's visit came on the anniversary of the cease-fire in last year's war with Georgia, during which Russian troops and separatist forces ousted Georgian forces from the territory of Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian province, South Ossetia. Speaking to Abkhazian media, Putin said Russia would spend at least 15 (b) billion roubles (465 million US dollars) next year to build military bases in Abkhazia and tighten the borders of the separatist Georgian region. Putin also travelled on Wednesday to Abkhazia's capital, Sukhumi, to meet officials of its breakaway government. After the war, Russia recognised both regions as independent, a move either denounced or ignored by almost all other countries. Putin's pledge on military spending underlines Russia's firm intention to keep both regions outside of Georgian control. In recent weeks, both Russia and Georgia have trumpeted their competing versions of which side started the war. Russia says it was responding to a Georgian assault on South Ossetia, whose residents mostly have Russian passports. Georgia says it was acting to repel invading Russian troops and accuses Russia of scheming to take over all of Georgia. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/02ba9fa5ecbefad7590f586272f422ef Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 23 Jul 2015
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