EUMM Head, Georgia’s Reconciliation Minister discuss situation in occupied regions
Tea Akhvlediani and Marek Szczygiel held a meeting yesterday. Photo: State Ministry for Reintegration and Civic Equality press office
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Georgia's new Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani and the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Marek Szczygiel spoke of human rights violations in the two Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) yesterday.
Good and productive meeting with the newly appointed State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani. Looking forward to continuing excellent cooperation between @EUMMGeorgia and @SMRCEGeorgia. More info: https://t.co/dCVNdgH7qy pic.twitter.com/nI8dMC6UHe
— EUMM Head of Mission (@EUMMGeorgia_HoM) August 21, 2020
During the meeting Szczygiel and Akhvlediani discussed the situation of the conflict-affected population, including the ‘prolonged closure’ of the crossings-points, recent detention cases of Georgian citizens as well as the ‘borderisation’ along the occupation line.
They denounced the erection of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers restricting the freedom of movement across the occupation line.
The State Ministry has reported that the closure of the crossing-points connecting occupied Akhalgori with the rest of Georgia negatively affects the humanitarian situation on the ground; moreover, 14 people have passed away due to delayed medical care during the coronavirus pandemic.
Marek Szczygiel congratulated Minister Akhvlediani on her appointment and expressed appreciation for the positive work relations between her office and the EUMM. Photo: EUMM
Meanwhile, Szczygiel and Akhvlediani welcomed the recent relaunch of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in the village of Ergneti close to occupied Tskhinvali region and expressed hope for the resumption of the Gali IPRM as well.
Both underlined the importance of the EUMM-managed hotline, which is frequently activated 'to facilitate medical crossings' across the occupation line and serves as ‘a crucial tool’ for confidence building among the local residents.
Minister Akhvlediani also stressed the necessity for continued support from the international partners to ensure ‘immediate release’ of the Georgian citizens illegally detained by the occupying forces.