US Department of State: Russian occupation separates residents from their communities and livelihoods

The US Department of State’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2018 that Russian illegal activities in Georgia are separating residents from their communities and livelihoods.

The report says that the de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) remained outside central government control and were supported by several thousand Russian troops and border guards occupying the areas.

A cease-fire has remained in effect since 2008. Russian border guards restricted the movement of local populations. While there was little official information on the human rights and humanitarian situation in South Ossetia due to limited access, allegations of abuse persisted,” the report says.

The Georgian man on the picture crossed the occupation line to vote in November 2018. In December, during the second round of elections the occupying forces observed him closely not to do the same. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge. 

The US Department of State says that Russia-controlled de facto authorities restricted the rights, “especially of ethnic Georgians”, to vote or otherwise participate in political processes, own property, register businesses and travel.

Although de facto South Ossetian authorities refused to permit most ethnic Georgians driven out due to the 2008 conflict to return to South Ossetia, a special crossing arrangement existed for those from Akhalgori district. De facto authorities did not allow most international organizations regular access to South Ossetia to provide humanitarian assistance,” reads the report.

Touching upon other issues the report spoke about the Georgian presidential elections last year, saying that OSCE observers described the first round of the presidential elections in October as “competitive and professionally administered”, although they raised concerns including the lack of a level playing field, voter intimidation, and fear of retribution.

The report says that while civilian authorities maintained effective control of the Ministry of Defense, there were indications that at times they did not maintain effective control of domestic security forces.

The report reads that the Georgian government took steps to investigate some allegations of human rights abuses, but shortcomings remained.

The report says that such shortcomings included a lack of accountability for the May 2017 reported abduction from Georgia and rendition to Azerbaijan of Azerbaijani journalist and activist Afgan Mukhtarli.