EU condemns Russian-installed barbed wire fences
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The European Union is expressing its concern at the continuing installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles by the Russian Federation near the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
This was the first time it had been mentioned that Russia had unlawfully erected makeshift borders within the EU Secretary General's Statement, which was the ninth consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia.
The statement expressed the EU's concern at continued violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of those residing within the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and in adjacent areas.
The statement said violations included, but were not limited to violating a person's freedom of movement, the right to property, the right to family life, the right to have an education in their native language and other basic rights, which were caused by the installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles by the Russian Federation.
The Russian Federation first recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26 2008.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs believed the EU reiterated its firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
"It was the greatest success of Georgia. The statement focused that Russia has not fulfilled its international commitments and obligations that is very important for us,” Minister Maia Panjikidze said.
The Georgian delegation made a statement during the meeting, which focused on the current situation in Georgia's occupied territories. The Georgian delegation called upon the Council of Europe's member states to take timely and effective measures to stop Russia's illegal activities.
The statement also read that the EU reiterated its concern about the continuing Russian military and security-related presence and infrastructure reinforcements in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Council of Europe stressed the importance of removing the obstacles which violated human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The EU also called on Russia to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement of August 12 2008 and of the September 8 Implementing Measures of the six-point agreement, which included providing the EU Monitoring Mission with access to the breakaway regions.
The statement underlined the importance of the right of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to a safe, dignified and voluntary return.
"The EU encourages the full implementation of the revised law on IDPs which has been in force since 1 March 2014,” read the statement.
The EU delegation of the European Union to the Council of Europe decided to continue regular discussions surrounding the protection of human rights in the areas affected by the conflict in Georgia, and encouraged the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to continue submitting his biannual reports to the Committee of Ministers.It was only Russian representative that cast doubt in the effectiveness of the report.
Meanwhile, the GUAM member states also welcomed the report and stressed the importance of keeping the issue high on the political agenda on the Council of Europe.
The installation of barbed wire fences by Russian and Ossetian border guards has left a historical Georgian church isolated behind the fences, which mark the so-called boundary between Georgian and Ossetian territory.
Three Georgian journalists have been released after being taken captive near the occupation line near South Ossetia.
The Georgian Patriarchate has serious concerns about the barbed wire fences erected to mark the so-called boundary between Georgian and South Ossetian territory.
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) has applied to European Court of Human Rights on behalf to people living near the barbed wire fences in one of Georgia’s breakaway regions.
One of Europe’s top human rights’ promoters has visited Khurvaleti, a Georgian village located at the border of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and spoken with people who were forced from their homes by conflict.
A group of United Nations diplomats are in Georgia to learn about the difficult life of those living in villages that border the occupation line.
The Council of Europe has today adopted an important decision for Georgia in which the organisation reiterates its unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country within its internationally recognised borders.
The Committee of Ministers Deputies of the Council of Europe (CoE) yesterday discussed the 14th Consolidated Report on the Conflict in Georgia, paying particular attention to current difficult human rights situation in two occupied regions of Georgia- Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).