EUMM saddened by death of woman due to closed ‘checkpoint’ with occupied Tskhinvali
The European Union Monitoring Mission said in its statement that the EUMM-managed Hotline was not activated in this case. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) offers its “sincere condolences” for the “unfortunate death” of Margo Martiashvili, who suffered a stroke in the Russian-controlled Akhalgori district yesterday.
The Mission is aware of the death of Ms. Margo Martiashvili from Akhalgori district. The EUMM-managed Hotline was not activated in this case. Our thoughts are with her family”, EUMM announced late today.
The Mission further noted that “such tragic instances show the potential impact of the severe restrictions in place on the freedom of movement for the local population in Akhalgori valley”.
It said "the main crossing point to South Ossetia and the Akhalgori Valley", normally seeing around 400 crossings daily "has been totally closed" since September 5.
This is depriving local communities of prompt and adequate medical care. It is also affecting livelihoods in other negative ways”, EUMM said, adding that the Mission “is monitoring these developments closely”.
To prevent further hardship, the Mission announced that “it is important that restrictions are lifted as soon as possible and for a humanitarian approach to prevail in handling individual cases”.
The EUMM also underscored that it “has made its position clear” on these points at recent Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings in Ergneti.
Martiashvili died in the hospital of occupied Tskhinvali as her relatives were unable to transport her to the Tbilisi-controlled territory via the shortest route due to the closure of the so-called border.
Margo Martiashvili, who suffered a stroke in the Russian-controlled Akhalgori district, has died earlier today in the hospital of occupied Tskhinvali as her relatives were unable to transport her to the Tbilisi-controlled territory via the shortest route due to the closure of the so-called border.
Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Jean-Christophe Belliard has joined the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) patrols in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area today
De facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region say that the tension at the villages of Chorchana and Tsnelisi will be eased only if and after Tbilisi removes a police post in Chocrhana, located on the territory which is under the control of the central Georgian government.
The European Union Monitoring MIssion (EUMM) reported that earlier today its patrol “was briefly held by armed South Ossetian security actors”, while conducting a patrol in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area, close to the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell says that the death of 70-year-old Margo Martiashvili, who suffered a stroke in the Russian-occupied Akhalgori district and was unable to be transported to the Tbilisi-administered territory because of the closed “checkpoints” with Tskhinvali, is “tragic, and we are doing our best for the crossing points to be reopened.”
Georgian Foreign Ministry David Zalkaliani has stated that the humanitarian crisis in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions [of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali] is one of the major challenges for the government, responding to the recent death of a woman in Tskhinvali due to the closed ‘checkpoint” with the breakaway region. He again raised the issue while meeting with the US Department of States Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center Lea Gabrielle earlier today.
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood says that the US is concerned by the recent death of a woman in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region due to closed crossing points and urged for the reopening of the so-called checkpoints by the occupation forces.
The Democracy Research Institute NGO, chaired by former Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili, has reported the death of 49-year-old Georgian citizen B.K. in Akhalgori [under Russian control] hospital due to closed crossing points with the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Tbilisi and the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) have strongly denied reports by the de facto government of Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region regarding shooting at the occupation line. De facto security committee of Tskhinvali has stated earlier today that an “armed conflict” took place between the personnel of the Georgian Interior Ministry and the residents of the Koda village [Khashuri municipality, under Tbilisi control] on November 5.
Occupation forces have illegally detained two Georgian citizens at the village of Kodistskaro, Kaspi municipality, near the occupation line with Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed. The agency said that the issue will be raised at today’s 7th extraordinary meeting in Ergneti.
Tamar Gigauri, who fell into a well of seven meters deep in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori on November 4, is in critical condition, states Democracy Research Institute.
The EU Council has prolonged the mandate of the European Union monitoring mission in Georgia (EUMM) until December 14, 2022. EUMM announced on Friday that the decision follows a strategic review of the mission by the Political and Security Committee.