EUMM asks for leniency following recent detentions at occupation line
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In light of the unlawful detention of "jonjoli” pickers in the Sachkhere area, near the de-facto South Ossetian border, the European Union’s Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) is calling on all parties to show consideration and understanding before any detention is made.
The EUMM has warned pickers to be more careful of where they gather "jonjoli” and asked Russian border guards to be more lenient and not detain the gatherers unlawfully.
"For many families living along the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia, "jonjoli” picking is a key source of income.
Considering its importance to the livelihood of local people, the Mission urges all parties to show understanding towards pickers who may stray across the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia,” the EUMM said in a written statement today.
On May 2 the first group of "jonjoli” pickers were detained. Since then the EUMM has recorded five separate incidences of detention involving 26 local villagers.
"The hotline, which is part of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and offers parties a platform to exchange information, has been in daily use, but to date 18 people are still in detention,” the EUMM said.
The EUMM called for the prompt release of all ‘jonjoli’ pickers still in detention.
The latest incidence of unlawful detention by Russian border guards happened earlier today where seven "jonjoli” pickers from the Sachkhere province were detained.
Seven more Georgian citizens from the Sachkhere province have been detained by Russian border guards at the occupation line for allegedly illegally crossing the border into de-facto South Ossetia.
Five out of 18 Georgian citizens being detained from the Sachkhere province for allegedly illegally crossing the border into de-facto South Ossetia have been released by the de-facto regime last night.
The Georgian locals, who have not been named, were picking capers in the rural outskirt of their villages when they were picked up by Russian soldiers. The border guards claimed the trio were "illegally crossing” the border and detained them.
Six Georgian citizens have been detained by Russian forces near the occupation line of so-called South Ossetia.
Ten Georgian citizens gathering capers near the occupation line have been detained by Russian border guards for allegedly trying to illegally cross the border into South Ossetia.
Russian soldiers have detained a fourth Georgian citizen in the Kareli district, which runs alongside the disputed border near South Ossetia.
Three Georgian women detained by Russian forces for allegedly illegally crossing the so-called border near South Ossetia have been released after paying a fine.
Three Georgian journalists have been released after being taken captive near the occupation line near South Ossetia.
Conflict resolution experts have descended on the Georgian village of Ergneti to discuss issues that are plaguing the troubled region following the detention of Georgian citizens near the occupation line.
A 54-year-old Georgian peasant has been detained by Russian occupants in Tamarasheni, a South Ossetian village.
A Georgian citizen is facing more than a decade in jail after being convicted by a court in Georgia's breakaway region South Ossetia.
Two Georgian citizens have been illegally detained in breakaway Abkhazia’s Gali district, says Georgia’s Interior Ministry.
The European Council has extended the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) by two years, until December 14, 2016.