CoE deputy ministers discuss Conflict in Georgia report
The report described the “difficult” security, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line between October 2021 and March 2022. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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The 25th Consolidated Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the Conflict in Georgia was discussed on Wednesday at the meeting of the deputy ministers of the Council of Europe, the Georgian foreign office said.
The report described the “difficult” security, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line between October 2021 and March 2022.
The report mentioned the illegal process of 'borderisation', the restriction of free movement and other serious human rights violations in the regions occupied by Russia.
The report emphasised the closure of the so-called “crossing points” had had a negative impact, especially on the “socio-economic” situation of the residents of central Georgia's Akhalgori district, near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. It also mentioned facts of illegal detentions by occupation forces, including the illegal arrest of Georgian citizen Irakli Bebua, and noted the Georgian Government had raised the issue of his immediate release.
The report also emphasised the importance of administering justice in the cases of citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, Davit Basharuli, Irakli Kvaratskhelia and Inal Jabiev over the recent years, and noted “no progress” had been made in this regard.
In addition, the report focused on the Georgian Government's peace initiatives.
The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Lasha Darsalia spoke on the illegal militarisation, steps towards de facto annexation, illegal strengthening of the occupation line, illegal detentions and other serious human rights violations in the occupied regions as along the administrative line, as well as ethnic discrimination against Georgians by de facto authorities, including a ban on education in Georgian language.
Darsalia also made comments on Russia's disregard for the principles of international law and the challenges facing the European security Architecture, condemning Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
The situation created by the armed conflict taking place in Ukraine, the ongoing occupation of Georgian regions, and release of Georgian citizens illegally arrested by occupation forces were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia, and Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.
Recognition of independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), two Russian-occupied Georgian regions, by Belarus is not on the agenda, Georgian foreign ministry spokesperson Mari Narchemashvili said on Monday, following comments made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
The State Security Service of Georgia has reported “illegal destructive activities” observed in the occupied territories near the central Georgian village of Mejvriskhevi, adjacent to the administrative boundary line separating the government-controlled territory from the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
No referendum in the Russian-occupied territories has legitimacy, the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said on Thursday in response to the information on the de facto authorities in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region planning to hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation.
Marek Szczygieł, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, on Thursday welcomed the temporary opening of the Odzisi crossing point into central Georgia's Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region by the de facto authorities for the Orthodox Easter celebrations.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Friday welcomed the “continuous and marked progress” made by Georgia in honouring its Council of Europe membership obligations and commitments since 2014, but added a number of shortcomings and concerns remained.