US calls for ‘full account of circumstances’ around deaths of Georgians in Russian-occupied regions
The US statement mentions four high-profile cases of deaths of Georgian citizens in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Photo: usflagco.com.
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The US has called ‘for those responsible’ to provide a full account of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Georgian citizens Irakli Kvaratskhelia, Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and David Basharuli in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
The US mission to OSCE has made the statement following the 49th Geneva International Discussions on Georgian conflict issues held earlier this month.
U.S. calls for those responsible to provide full account of circumstances surrounding deaths of Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria & Davit Basharuli. All participants need to aid in investigation of fate of missing persons regardless of circumstances. https://t.co/hNSfwXPGFS pic.twitter.com/iJIr3siu1P
— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) October 18, 2019
In the statement which was released late yesterday, the US mission to OSCE says that the American delegation attending the Geneva Discussions expressed concern over the recent escalation of tensions along the occupation line in Georgia.
We welcomed the news that the Enguri Bridge crossing point on the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with Abkhazia had recently reopened and encouraged de facto authorities to open additional crossing points,” the statement reads.
The statement says that the US welcomed the September 26 meeting of the Georgian and Russian foreign ministers, adding that “we hope that renewed dialogue will enable progress on key issues of bilateral concern.”
The US says that it was regrettable that the participants from Russia and de facto authorities “once again refused” to engage in discussion of internally displaced persons [during the Geneva Discussions] and chose instead to walk out.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. The meeting, which is the first since Georgia suspended its diplomatic ties with Russia following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, was "initiated and facilitated" by Switzerland.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives said “Russia must immediately cease its destructive behaviour and respect Georgian sovereignty”. In a statement released on August 30, the Foreign Affairs Committee said “Russia’s further militarisation of South Ossetia is outrageous and unacceptable".
The United States is “monitoring reports of military buildup near the administrative boundary line (ABL) of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia”. The US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus released a statement on her official Twitter account today.
The situation remains stable in the village of Chorchana, located in Khashuri Municipality, near the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region since 06:00 AM when the ultimatum of the Ossetian side expired. The Ossetian side demanded the Georgian side dismantle a police checkpoint that is located on Georgia-controlled area and gave time by 06:00 AM, August 30.