Foreign diplomats in Georgia convene to discuss tensions near conflict zone as talks with Ossetian side fall apart
The diplomats have convened in the foreign ministry as the 95thsession of Incidents Prevention and Response Mechanism (IRPM) in Russia-occupied Ergneti village, attended by Georgian, Russian and so-called Ossetian government members cancelled today. Photo: 1tv.ge.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has invited foreign diplomats to discuss the tense situation near the occupation line with the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region, in Khashuri Municipality.
The diplomats have convened in the foreign ministry as the 95th session of Incidents Prevention and Response Mechanism (IRPM) in Russia-occupied Ergneti village, attended by Georgian, Russian and so-called Ossetian government members fell apart today.
Participants to the IPRM have arrived to our tent. 95th session to start shortly. We will soon sit down at the meeting table to discuss developments during past weeks threatening stability and human security – including “borderization” at the Administrative Boundary Line pic.twitter.com/0gedaHTZbK
— Erik Hoeg (@erik_hoeg) August 29, 2019
Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia provided the diplomats with information on the events currently observed in the village of Chorchana and asked them to notify their governments.
He said he is hopeful for the cancelled IRPM session to resume tomorrow.
Official of the Georgian State Security Office Irakli Antadze said that Ossetian side demanded the Georgian police checkpoint on the Georgia-controlled territory near the occupation line to be dismantled.
South Ossetian side reports the consolidated units of KGB and OMON have been deployed to protect the ‘state border of South Ossetia.’ Photo by Marina Kotaeva/Sputnik.
After the Georgian side strictly refused to dismantle the post as it is located in the area controlled by the Georgian government, the Russian and Ossetian officials left the session in protest.
Georgian official Irakli Antadze said ‘the language of ultimatums’ is unacceptable to the Georgian government.
Prior to the session he said there were 10 issues on the agenda to be discussed including:
- Illegal ‘borderisation’ in the village of Gugutiantkari, Gori Municipality, in the vicinity of the Tskhinvali region
- Movement of Russian occupation forces near the village of Chorchana, Khashuri Municipality, also near the Tskhinvali region
- Destruction of residential houses in Eredvi village and installation of a waste dump in the area by Russian occupation forces
- Torture and murder of national hero of Georgia Archil Tatunashvili
The so-called State Security Committee of South Ossetia has reported the consolidated units of KGB (State Security Committee of Russia) and OMON (special police units of Federal Police within the National Guard of Russia) have been deployed to protect the ‘state border of South Ossetia’ in Znauri district, Shida Kartli, Georgia.
Russian occupation forces have appeared near the village of Chorchana, Khashuri Municipality today. The village is located in the vicinity of the Russia - occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The State Security Service of Georgia reports that military equipment of the occupation forces has been detected moving in the area.
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.’
Russian occupation forces have resumed work on a so-called ‘border’ they have erected in the village of Gugutiantkari in Gori Municipality. They are currently fortifying the so-called border. Dozens of border posts have been erected by occupation forces since August 7, when the work first began.
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.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) said today’s Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting “was marked by a series of intense exchanges on the topic of Tsnelisi between participants”.
De facto official of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Egor Kochiev said the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri Municipality, close to Tskhinvali should be dismantled by 6 a.m. Friday, August 30.
Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases a statement regarding the latest developments at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern about mobilisation of military equipment and personnel by the occupation forces at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia,” reads the statement.
The situation remains stable in the village of Chorchana, located in Khashuri Municipality, near the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region since 06:00 AM when the ultimatum of the Ossetian side expired. The Ossetian side demanded the Georgian side dismantle a police checkpoint that is located on Georgia-controlled area and gave time by 06:00 AM, August 30.
Politicians from the European Union have responded to the tense situation that arose yesterday in the village of Chorchana, near the Russia-occupied region of Tskhinvali, Georgia.
Member of the European Parliament and Polish politician Anna Fotyga said in her Twitter post yesterday that the threat of provocation and escalation is observed as Russian occupation and Ossetian forces have concentrated along the occupation line.
The members of the Georgian government and occupation forces of the de-facto Tskhinvali region and Russia have held a meeting amid tensions along the occupation line in the Russia-occupied village of Tsnelisi today.
After the three-hour meeting was over, the Georgian and Ossetian sides made different statements. Head of the Georgian Security Council Kakhaber Kemoklidze said the meeting participants were unanimous, saying the situation should be de-escalated, adding the meeting was held in a ‘constructive environment.’
Members of the central Georgian government and the de facto Tskhinvali leadership have held a four-hour meeting in the village of Ergneti earlier today to once again discuss the fate of the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri municipality, near the occupation line on Tbilisi-administered territory.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has offered the Normandy format of dialogue with Russia, the format Ukraine has with the country.
The Estonian intelligence report of 2020 reads that this year ‘Russia’s focus will certainly be on the US presidential and Georgian parliamentary elections.’ The report says that the main goal of Russia is to ensure a more beneficial election result by favouring Russian-friendly candidates or those who have the most divisive influence in the West. “Moreover, Russia wants to show that the west is failing to hold fair elections."