Occupation forces erect barriers in Gugutiantkari village on Tbilisi-controlled territory

The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupation forces are replacing so-called border marks with fences, which is the part of “borderisation”. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Agenda.ge, 20 Jan 2020 - 22:53, Tbilisi,Georgia

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.

Occupation forces continue provocative activities along the occupation line. They have erected illegal installations in the village of Gugutiantkari, Gori Municipality on the central government-controlled territory”, the Security Service said.

It further noted that the occupation forces are replacing barbed wire fences with so-called border marks, which is the part of “borderisation”.

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has been informed and the EUMM-managed hotline has been activated.

The State Security Service noted as well that it lacks the opportunity to raise the above mentioned issue at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting, which has been suspended since August 29, 2019 because of Tskhinvali representatives. 

The occupation forces initially started erecting a so-called border in the village of Gugutiantkari in August, 2019. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry press office

The Security Service reported on the recent developments at the occupation line near the village of Chorchana as well. 

In particular, the anti-occupation movement the Strength is in Unity reported yesterday that occupation forces have made new markings on the trees in the Chorchana forest, Khashuri municipality, 240 meters from the occupation line. 

The Security Service said the central government will respond adequately to any possible sign of “borderisation”. It also noted that the cases of marking trees in the same area have been noticed back in 2016 as well. 

The issue was then raised at the IPRM meeting. However, the State Security Service said, Tskhinvali representatives have then denied having any ties with those markings.