US Country Reports on Human Rights raises concerns of illegalities in Russian-occupied Georgian regions
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that it is good the US legislative and executive governments use the term ‘occupation’ when referring to Georgia’s Russian-controlled regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Photo: Reuters.
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The US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices says that the ‘unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of life by Russian and de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions’ is a ‘significant human rights issue.’
The report says that other important human rights issues in Georgia also include:
- Problems with the independence of the judiciary and investigations and prosecutions widely considered to be politically motivated.
- Unlawful interference with privacy.
- Inappropriate police force against journalists.
- Substantial interference with the right of peaceful assembly, including inappropriate police force against protesters.
- Crimes involving violence or threats targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons.
The government took steps to investigate some allegations of human rights abuses, but shortcomings remained, including a lack of accountability for inappropriate police force used against journalists and protesters during June 20-21 demonstrations and the 2017 abduction and rendition from Georgia of Azerbaijani journalist and activist Afgan Mukhtarli,” the report said.
Our nation was founded on the premise that all human beings are created equal in rights and in dignity. I’m proud that 244 years later, the U.S. remains a leader in the effort to champion #humanrights with the 2019 #HumanRightsReport, available at: https://t.co/8k1675MUs6
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 11, 2020
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that the US Department of State reports ‘ are very important for us and all the recommendations will be considered.’
He said that the report is to improve shortcomings in the human rights field and the Georgian government will take the remarks into account.
Zalkalini welcomed that the US Department of State used the word ‘occupation’ in its report.
The US Department of State has welcomed an agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections, stating that is a ‘crucial step towards depolarisation and normalisation of the political environment in Georgia,’ in the run-up to the race.
The US Department of State says in its 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report that Georgia should take steps to supervise its gaming industry.The report reads that there are 416 lotteries and gaming institutions registered in Georgia and 31 casinos.
The United States “will not stop working until Russia ends its occupation of sovereign Georgian territory”, the US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said at a news briefing last night.
According to the report, one of the most significant human rights issues were arbitrary detentions and deprivation of life by Russian and de facto authorities of the country’s citizens along the administrative boundary lines with the Russian-occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The US Department of State has released its 45th report on the observance of human rights in countries around the world in 2020, including Georgia.