EUMM mission head to Georgia highlights recent tension at occupation line in speech in Brussels
Erik Hoeg was appointed the head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Georgia, on 19 December 2017. Photo: EUMM Georgia press office.
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Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia Erik Hoeg has briefed the Political and Security Committee (PSC) ambassadors from EU member states on the recent developments at the occupation line with Georgia’s currently Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (so-called South Ossetia) region in Brussels.
The EUMM is only international mission in Georgia which is able to monitor the situation at the occupation lines with Georgia’s two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
They are still not allowed [by Russia and de facto authorities] to enter the regions.
Good exchange in Brussels today with PSC Ambassadors about recent developments at the South Ossetian ABL and role of #EUMM in stabilising the situation on the ground. Appreciate atrong support expressed by EU member states for activities of Mission. pic.twitter.com/M1s7tRZhFO
— Erik Hoeg (@erik_hoeg) October 15, 2019
The situation became tense on the ground at the end of August when Russian-occupied Tskhinvali protested the opening of an ordinary police post in the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on Tbilisi administered territory, citing ‘security threats to locals.’
After Tbilisi refused to remove the post the occupying forces constructed two new “police posts” on Tbilisi-administered territory, near the village of Tsnelisi, Kareli municipality [bordering Chorchana] and closed the so-called border with Akhalgori district.
Two crossing points at Tskhinvali occupation line - Odzisi and Sinaguri - have been closed since September 4, creating severe humanitarian situation on the ground.
The Political and Security Committee is responsible for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
A mother living in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district was not allowed to leave the territory for several days to mourn her son who died in the Tserovani settlement, on Tbilisi-administered territory. The story caused public turmoil on social media, with the mother permitted to leave Akhalgori only late yesterday [while the young man died on September 22], Radio Liberty reports.
Georgian Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has stated in parliament earlier today that at the moment she was delivering a speech in parliament, Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region was “was almost fully isolated” from the rest of Georgia.
The US is concerned by the current tension at the Tskhinvali occupation line and the closure of so-called borders which further complicates the situation on the ground and creates serious humanitarian problems, Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood said.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), which is the only mission deployed in Georgia after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, has provided details regarding the current tension at Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region ‘‘due to the level of press interest and to dispel inaccurate reports.”
The armed forces of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have been put in combat mode for “educational purposes,” Sputnik Ossetia reports. The agency says that it is the decision of the so-called Ministry of Defence of the region.
De facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region say that the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) monitors were held yesterday as they “illegally crossed the border in the village of Tsnelisi (Kareli Municipality, under the Russian control),” adding that the action by the EUMM was “provocative.”
The Russian-controlled de facto Tskhinvali region of Georgia has announced a ‘temporarily closure’ of the only, Kartsmani crossing point with the rest of Georgia ‘due to increased security threats in New Year days.’
De facto President of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region Anatoly Bibilov has stated that he is against the reopening of crossing points with the rest of Georgia which have been closed since September 2019 and which has created a severe humanitarian situation on the ground.