Foreign Ministry calls on occupation forces ‘to cease illegal activities’ in Georgia
Russia occupied two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in 2008. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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”.
The Foreign Ministry said the recent “illegal and provocative activities” across the occupation line, “form a chain of processes” which aims to “push” the Government of Georgia to start “so-called demarcation-delimitation procedures”.
These illegal activities include:
- the erection of artificial barriers
- illegal detention of Georgian civilians
- mobilisation of military equipment and personnel
- “groundless” accusations and ultimatums
However, the Foreign Ministry said, "this is a futile attempt", which is unacceptable to the Georgian authorities, as "the internal administrative border does not require any demarcation”.
Statement of @MFAgovge over t/ recent developments across t/occupation line:Ministry calls on t/occupation regime to cease its illegal activities aimed at destabilizing the situation & ensure constructive participation in t/GID or in t/IPRM https://t.co/EnYXRXZqEr
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) September 7, 2019
The Foreign Ministry also condemned Tskhinvali’s decision to close the so-called border with Georgia.
[It] grossly violates fundamental human rights, including the right to free movement, puts the population of the Tskhinvali region of Georgia in complete isolation and exacerbates the already difficult humanitarian situation on the ground”, it said.
It further noted that “such steps only cause further destabilisation of the situation and undermine the peaceful efforts of the Georgian government, as well as of the international community”.
The Foreign Ministry called on:
- the occupation regime to cease its illegal activities that are aimed at destabilising the situation and restricting the fundamental rights of the conflict-affected population
- the Russian Federation to respect its international commitments, implement the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, take effective measures to de-escalate the situation
- the international community to give due reaction to the occupation regime’s illegal and destructive steps and take effective measures to prevent them from continuing.
The OSCE Permanent Council has made a statement on recent developments in the occupied regions of Georgia on behalf of 15 countries. The United States Mission to OSCE, which "fully subscribes to the joint statement made by the Group of Friends of Georgia", released a separate statement as well in its "national capacity".
The United States is “monitoring reports of military buildup near the administrative boundary line (ABL) of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia”. The US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus released a statement on her official Twitter account today.
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 Georgian Foreign Ministry is concerned by reports that the locals of the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality, have been kidnapped near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) yesterday. It, therefore, calls on the international community to take “effective measures to stop illegal activities of the occupation forces”.
The Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Erik Hoeg said the recent decision of de facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) officials to close the so-called border with the rest of Georgia is “negatively affecting local communities” on both sides of the occupation line.
Georgian PM candidate Giorgi Gakharia spoke of the Russian occupation of the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in his speech in parliament ahead of today's vote of confidence in his government.
Giorgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the continued “borderisation” in the village of Atotsi in Kareli Municipality, near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, is “unacceptable”.