EU's Mogherini: ‘Borderisation’ in Georgia ‘must stop immediately’
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani held a phone conversation yesterday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said "borderisation" in the vicinity of the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality, close to occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region "must stop immediately".
The erection of fences hinder the freedom of movement of the local population and will deprive them from access to orchards and water resources, which are key to their livelihoods”, Mogherini said.
Mogherini held a phone conversation with the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani yesterday.
During the conversation she reiterated the European Union’s support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
.@FedericaMog speaks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkalianihttps://t.co/VDNjwg2lSL
— European External Action Service - EEAS ???????? (@eu_eeas) August 21, 2019
Russian occupation forces have erected dozens of border posts in the village of Gugutiantkari since August 7, when the work first began.
A number of countries and organisations, including the European Union, United Nations and United States have condemned Russian "borderisation" in Georgia since then.
EU-Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has also shared concern.
#Georgia: Concerned by recent “Borderisation” actions by Russia. #Georgia is a key partner for the #EU & we support its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Read the local #EU Statement here: https://t.co/9BOD0FR9ed
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) August 20, 2019
Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic and Estonia, Tomáš Petříček and Urmas Reinsalu have also joined in other leaders.
1/2 The illegal practice of division of the #Georgian territory has been lately renewed and several Georgian citizens were even kidnapped. Recently, I familiarized myself with a complicated situation of the locals on the spot. https://t.co/C5ihQMQaIN
— Tomáš Petříček (@TPetricek) August 20, 2019
Despite all calls from the international community to follow international law, Russia is continuing borderization in the occupied South Ossetia. Dividing Georgia and its people is unacceptable. @MFAgovge https://t.co/uqzHGFkFig
— Urmas Reinsalu (@UrmasReinsalu) August 21, 2019
Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani have visited Gugutiantkari to familiarise with the situation on ground.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called on the Russian Federation “to immediately stop its illegal activities” and withdraw its forces from the Georgian territory to ensure “sustainable peace and security” on ground.
Yet another Georgian citizen has been detained for illegally crossing the so-called border near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The de facto security council of Tskhinvali region said Tsotne Kublashvili, who is a local of Gori Municipality, was detained on August 20.
A Russian SUS aircraft violated Georgian airspace at about 12:00 near the village of Gugutiantkari today. The State Security Service of Georgia has confirmed the violation and stated the move is ‘yet another provocation by Russia.’
“The erection of fences by de-facto authorities of South Ossetia backed by Russian border guards in the vicinity of Gugutiantkari village hinders freedom of movement and will deprive people from the local area from accessing orchards and water resources”, the European Union Delegation to Georgia stated.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) told Agenda.ge that the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have confirmed the detention of eight people on the evening of August 17 and morning of August 18 near the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality via the mission’s hotline.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said the Russian occupation is “the most harmful challenge” for Georgia, therefore, this issue should unite every Georgian citizen, despite their political preferences. Mamuka Bakhtadze responded to journalists’ questions in the Georgian Black Seaside town of Batumi on August 21.
Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s (OSCE PA) human rights committee condemn the “illegal erection of fences and barriers” in Georgia and call upon “the respective authorities" to remove the fence from the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality.
“The so-called ‘presidential elections’ are yet another futile attempt to legalise ethnic cleansing, ongoing illegal occupation and factual annexation in the region of Abkhazia”, Georgian Foreign Ministry stated.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry is concerned that the “occupation forces occupied the hilltop in the vicinity of the village of Chorchana, installed a so-called ‘border’ sign and stepped up works to deploy a so-called checkpoint there”.
Officials and politicians in Georgia have assessed the recent meeting of the Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers in New York, which is the first since Georgia suspended its diplomatic ties with Russia following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.