The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Georgia at its 43rd session in Geneva, yesterday, reiterating its support for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning Russia’s actions in Georgia’s occupied regions and praising the efforts of the Georgian government to strengthen democracy.
The Resolution expresses serious concern over the human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied regions of Georgia with special emphasis on reported kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, interference with property rights, restrictions on access to education in one’s native language, free movement and residence, as well as continued discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin in both regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, “ the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry stated that the Human Rights Council expresses ‘serious concern’ at the continuous process of installation of barbed wire fences and different artificial barriers along the occupation line, and at the negative consequences of the closure of the so-called checkpoints ‘which further aggravates the already difficult social and economic situation on the ground’.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that the resolution is another victory of Georgia and another proof that the country is on the agenda of the international community. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
The council expressed concern that internally displaced persons and refugees continue to be deprived of their right to return to their homes in a safe and dignified manner.
The document stated that the Office of the High Commissioner and other international and regional human rights organisations have no immediate access to the Georgian occupied regions.
The council recognises the need for objective and impartial assessments and periodic reporting of the situation in these regions. The council calls for immediate access for the Office of the High Commissioner to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali regions,” the ministry reports.
The UN Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to present its reports on the human rights situation in Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions at the Council’s 44th and 45th sessions.
The resolution was presented online by Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia.