Occupation forces erect barriers at village of Chorchana on Tbilisi-controlled territory
The situation at the village of Chorchana became tense at the end of August 2019. Chorchana forest on the photo by RFE/RL.
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Russian-controlled occupation forces have erected “illegal installations” at the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on Tbilisi-administered territory, the Georgian State Security Service has reported earlier today.
The erection of the barriers is part of the illegal process the occupation forces began in 2011 [referring to the creeping occupation],” the Georgian State Security Service said, condemning the “provocation.”
The agency said that the international community has been informed regarding the tension at the Chorchana village which started at the end of August 2019.
The issue has been raised at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Meetings as well as at Geneva International Discussions,” the agency said.
The State Security Service says that consultations are being held with international partners for the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting to take place “as soon as possible, where we will demand an immediate removal of the illegal barriers.”
Seventh special meeting in Ergneti, which was dedicated to easing tension at the villages of Tsnelisi and Chorchana, ended without substantial progress in November 2019. Photo: EUMM Georgia.
Tension on the ground started at the end of August 2019 when Tbilisi opened a police post in the village of Chorchana, on territory which is under the control of the central Georgian government.
Tskhinvali demanded the removal of the post shortly after, saying at the time it “posed threats to our security.”
Tbilisi refused to do so and the occupying forces opened two new “police posts” at the village of Chorchana, on Tbilisi-administered territory and also closed so-called checkpoints.
- Residents of the Chorchana village reported earlier in 2019 that they saw trees marked in yellow in the Chorchana forest, which contains ores of talc and marble.
- They said that the occupation forces could be interested in the forest and the mines.
- To prevent incidents or the creeping occupation Tbilisi opened a police post in the village of Chorchana in August, bordering Tsnelisi village which is now under Russian control.
EUMM head to Georgia Erik Hoeg says that the 7th special meeting in Ergneti, which was dedicated to easing tension at the villages of Tsnelisi and Chorchana, has ended without substantial progress.The Georgian State Security Service has reported that the Russian-controlled de facto government of Tskhinvali still continues to demand the removal of an ordinary police post from the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, which is located on the Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Jean-Christophe Belliard has joined the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) patrols in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area today
De facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region say that the tension at the villages of Chorchana and Tsnelisi will be eased only if and after Tbilisi removes a police post in Chocrhana, located on the territory which is under the control of the central Georgian government.
The European Union Monitoring MIssion (EUMM) reported that earlier today its patrol “was briefly held by armed South Ossetian security actors”, while conducting a patrol in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area, close to the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood has addressed the Russian-controlled occupation forces to open crossing points between Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia and “allow locals to live without fear.”
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said in response to recent developments in the Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia that the Government of Georgia is not only ready for dialogue with the Abkhaz and Ossetian public but is making steps forward.
The US is concerned by current developments at the occupation line, near the village of Chorchana, acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood has stated earlier today, referring to the erection of new barriers by Russian-controlled occupation forces at the village of Chorchana, Khashuri municipality, on the Tbilisi-controlled territory earlier this month.
The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupation forces have erected illegal installations in the village of Gugutiantkari in Gori Municipality in the region of Shida Kartli, close to the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Head of the Georgian State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili has met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, the co-chair of Geneva International Discussions Toivo Klaar earlier today, following the recent erection of new installations and appearance of markings on trees by Russian-controlled occupation forces in Tbilisi-controlled Gugitiantkari and Chorchana villages.
Georgian Foreign Ministry says that Russia has been particularly active in its creeping annexation of more Georgian territories over the past two months and its (Russia’s) fight against the US-built Lugar Centre in Tbilisi has become intense.
Japan opposes any attempts to change Georgia’s internationally recognised borders, reads the official statement of the Embassy of Japan to Georgia regarding the resumed Russian ‘borderisation’ activities in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions.
The de facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region has accused Tbilisi of sparking provocations and the ‘continued occupation of its territories,’ urging the international community to ‘duly assess Georgia’s illegal activities.’
63-year-old Guram Stepanov who lived in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Akhalgori district in central Georgia has died after not receiving permission to travel to Tbilisi-controlled territory, Mtisambebi new agency reports.
The de facto authorities of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region will partially lift restrictions on crossings of the administrative line separating the region from the rest of Georgia starting on Saturday, the Georgian State Security Service said on Friday.