US concerned by the decision of de-facto South Ossetian authorities
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The United States is concerned by the decision of de facto South Ossetian authorities to temporarily close control crossing points in Georgia along the administrative boundary line in the Russian-occupied territory of South Ossetia.
Occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) leadership announced the closure of the so-called administrative boundary line with the rest of Georgia on May 7 regarding the 73th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, when the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 armed conflict. The checkpoint was closed at 8 pm on May 7 and will open at 8 pm on May 10.
"These closures coincide with Georgia’s celebration of Victory Day and restrict freedom of movement for residents living on both sides of the administrative boundary line,” says the statement by the spokesperson Heather Nauert published on May 8 on the website of the State Department.
The United States calls for an immediate halt to the ongoing illegal detentions of Georgian citizens by de facto and Russian authorities along the administrative boundary lines with the Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The de facto leadership of Georgia’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region has started digging of anti-fire ditches near the occupation lines, which separate the breakaway territory from the rest of Georgia.
Georgia’s eastern occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) leadership has announced that it is closing the so-called administrative boundary line with the rest of Georgia today, regarding the 73th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, when the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 armed conflict.
Russian-controlled border guards have detained 50-year-old Georgian citizen Sergo Darbaidze near the occupation line with Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The EUMM notes that recent developments at the ABL will be addressed by participants at the next meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism to take place in Ergneti on 15 May.
Priest and shepherd detained in Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia)
Ioane Okhanashvili is the pastor of Saint Georgia’s Church in the village Dirbi, located a few kilometres away from the South Ossetian ABL.
The news about the other detention came from the village of Tsitelubani. The shepherd Teimuraz Dudashvili was taken by force to Tskhinvali by Russian border guards, according to his neighbours.