CoE issues new consolidated report on conflict in Georgia
The report presented by the CoE Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland covers the period between October 2018 and March 2019. Photo: Permanent Representation of Georgia to CoE/Twitter
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The Council of Europe (CoE) has issued its new consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia.
The report focuses on human rights and security situation in the Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
A delegation of the Secretariat carried out a fact-finding visit to Tbilisi on February 12-13, 2019 and met with various state and non-state actors.
Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia delivering speech regarding the 19th consolidated report of the CoE Secretary General on "Conflict in Georgia". Photo: Permanent Representation of Georgia to CoE/Twitter
The Georgian government along with a large part of the international community continued to object resolutely to Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to the increasing Russian military presence in these territories, in violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the report says.
The report underscores that “security actors met by the delegation highlighted that in general the number and the frequency of military exercises in the region had regrettably increased”.
Moreover, the delegation’s interlocutors converged in their assessment that the humanitarian and human rights’ situation in conflict-affected regions had further worsened, mainly due to increased restrictions on freedom of movement”, it says.
The report also highlights that “the closure for an unprecedented period” of the crossing points between the occupied regions and the rest of Georgia “has created an extremely difficult humanitarian situation for the local population, while hampering people-to-people contacts”.
It also says that the so-called “borderisation” process also “continued to trigger widespread criticism” during the reporting period.
The report further notes that in meetings with the delegation, representatives of the Georgian government raised the issue of impunity for grave human rights violations in conflict-affected areas and referred in this respect to the “Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili” list.
Against this background, the death of a 29-year-old Georgian citizen in Abkhazia on 12 March raised serious concerns”, the report reads.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said the report is “an important message” proving that the problems of Georgia are high on the CoE's political agenda.
Welcome Secretary General’s Consolidated Report on Conflict in Georgia highlighting the difficult human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories. EU expresses its deep concern over Russia's illegal military presence and infrastructure reinforcements on the ground.
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) April 25, 2019
The delegations of European Union and Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development-GUAM member states also released separate statements on the Secretary General’s 19th consolidated report both reiterating their firm support for the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
- The report was presented by the CoE Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on April 24.
- It covers the period between between October 2018 and March 2019.
- It is being published twice a year since 2010.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Thorbjorn Jagland in the Cyprus capital of Nicosia.
The European Union (EU) welcomes the Council of Europe’s (CoE) latest report on the conflict in Georgia and considers it important to keep this issue high on the political agenda of the organisation.
Georgia has received an unprecedented level of support from members of the Council of Europe (CoE) at a meeting of CoE Committee of Ministers Deputies, says the Georgian Foreign Ministry.
The situation at the Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) was discussed at today’s meeting of ministers of the Council of Europe today.
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) adopted a decision on conflict in Georgia at its 1345th meeting of minister’s deputies in Strasbourg on May 2. The deputy ministers reiterated CoE’s “unequivocal support” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
An annual report of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office focuses on Russian influence in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and the severe infringement of ethnic Georgians' human rights towards ethnic Georgians.
The Council of European Union has praised Georgian human rights reforms in the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2018.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Marija Pejčinović Burić will visit Georgia on November 10-11. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported today that her visit is connected to Georgia’s upcoming six-month chairmanship of the CoE Committee of Ministers from November.
The Council of Europe has issued its seventh decision on ‘The Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia’ supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity urging Russia to implement the provisions of the EU mediated Ceasefire Agreement signed on August 12, 2008.
The European Union (EU) welcomes the Council of Europe’s latest (22nd) report on the conflict in Georgia and expresses its grave concern about the continuous deterioration of the human rights and security situation in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia, Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani welcomes the 22nd consolidated report of the Council of Europe on the conflict in Georgia, which again reflects ‘the tremendously difficult humanitarian crisis’ for Georgia’s Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). This, Zalkaliani said, is ‘yet another pivotal expression of support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.