Geneva Int’l Discussions Co-Chairs condemn ‘borderisation’ amid coronavirus pandemic
GID Co-Chairs call on all participants “to avoid provocative measures and focus on improving the situation of the conflict-affected population”. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry press office
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The co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) from the European Union, United Nations and the OSCE, Toivo Klaar, Cihan Sultanoglu and Rudolf Michalka condemn “borderisation” activities near the village of Takhtisdziri close to the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
They again call on UN Secretary General Guterres to “strongly urge all the GID participants to set aside differences and to refrain from actions that could lead to increased tension” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The reported erection of signs along the South Ossetian dividing line today predictably contributes to a tense atmosphere on the ground and rids the local people of their livelihoods”, they stated.
The GID Co-Chairs also noted that “in the face of the current global challenge of COVID-19” joint approaches and cooperation is needed.
Statement of the GID co-chairs regarding yesterday’s developments on the South Ossetian ABL pic.twitter.com/GKINyEc5EH
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) April 18, 2020
They hereby reiterate their call on all GID participants “to avoid provocative measures and focus on improving the situation of the conflict-affected population”.
Marek Szczygiel, new Head of the European Union Monitoring mission (EUMM), which is the only monitoring mission patrolling at occupation lines in Georgia, said the EUMM "closely monitors" the situation.
Easter time traditionally brings both peace and people together. Important to remain calm and avoid any provocation. @EUMM closely monitors the situation along ABL in Takhtisdziri area.#stabilisation #ABL #normalisation
— EUMM Head of Mission (@EUMMGeorgia_HoM) April 17, 2020
Yesterday the occupying forces resumed “borderisation” activities in Kareli Municipality in central Georgia, which has been condemned by Tbilisi as "destructive" acts amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
The United States is “deeply troubled” by reports that Russian-led security forces have resumed aggressive "borderization" activities near the village of Takhtisdziri close to the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell also stated that “borderisation” is “completely unacceptable”.
The occupying forces illegally detained a man and his wife living in the village of Khurvaleti near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. Malkhaz Vanishvili, 30, is the grandson of Davit Vanishvili, whose house and agricultural lands are divided in two by occupying forces for several years now.
Incidents of borderisation carried out by occupation forces in central Georgia's Kareli Municipality on Friday have been condemned in responses of the official Tbilisi as "destructive" acts amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Occupation forces in central Georgia's Kareli Municipality carried out an act of borderisation on Friday, Georgia's State Security Service told reporters in Tbilisi.
A number of foriegn officials have condemned resumption of “borderisation” activities near the village of Takhtisdziri close to the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions as well as the United States and the European Union have also condemned “borderisation” activities near the village of Takhtisdziri.
Georgia has thanked the international community for its firm stance condemning the illegal installations near the village of Takhtisdziri close to the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Lasha Darsalia said Russia’s ‘destructive activities’ negatively affect the situation on the ground amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Russian occupying forces have resumed ‘borderisation’ activities on the territory of the villages of Pakhulani and Saberio, near the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupying forces are changing the existing barbed wire fences and installing additional illegal installations on the ground.
The Georgian parliament has approved a bill outlawing production of maps illustrating Georgia without its occupied regions of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia.
The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia says that the first signs of illegal 'borderisation' - which is an outcome of the Russian occupation - were detected back in 2009, while the illegal process has been actively underway since 2011.