NEWS

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.

Agenda.ge, 14 Jan 2020 - 14:46, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.

EUMM reports details of current tension at Tskhinvali occupation line

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.

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