CoE issues new consolidated report on conflict in Georgia

The Council of Europe (CoE) has issued its new consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia.

The report focuses on human rights and security situation in the Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

A delegation of the Secretariat carried out a fact-finding visit to Tbilisi on February 12-13, 2019 and met with various state and non-state actors.

Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia delivering speech regarding the 19th consolidated report of the CoE Secretary General on "Conflict in Georgia". Photo: Permanent Representation of Georgia to CoE/Twitter

The Georgian government along with a large part of the international community continued to object resolutely to Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to the increasing Russian military presence in these territories, in violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the report says.

The report underscores that “security actors met by the delegation highlighted that in general the number and the frequency of military exercises in the region had regrettably increased”.

Moreover, the delegation’s interlocutors converged in their assessment that the humanitarian and human rights’ situation in conflict-affected regions had further worsened, mainly due to increased restrictions on freedom of movement”, it says.

The report also highlights that “the closure for an unprecedented period” of the crossing points between the occupied regions and the rest of Georgia “has created an extremely difficult humanitarian situation for the local population, while hampering people-to-people contacts”.

It also says that the so-called “borderisation” process also “continued to trigger widespread criticism” during the reporting period.

The report further notes that in meetings with the delegation, representatives of the Georgian government raised the issue of impunity for grave human rights violations in conflict-affected areas and referred in this respect to the “Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili” list.

Against this background, the death of a 29-year-old Georgian citizen in Abkhazia on 12 March raised serious concerns”, the report reads.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said the report is “an important message” proving that the problems of Georgia are high on the CoE's political agenda.

Welcome Secretary General’s Consolidated Report on Conflict in Georgia highlighting the difficult human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories. EU expresses its deep concern over Russia's illegal military presence and infrastructure reinforcements on the ground.

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) April 25, 2019