Illegal detentions in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions in focus of Reconciliation Minister’s Parliament address

Illegal detentions of Georgian citizens in Russian-occupied regions of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia, and mechanisms for a further implementation of human-centred policies were in focus of an address by Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, to the Parliament on Friday.

In her comments to MPs, representatives of the Temporary Parliamentary Commission of Restoration of Territorial Integrity, the Parliamentary Defence and Security Committee, and the legitimate Government of Abkhazia, Akhvlediani said eight Georgian citizens remained in illegal custody in both regions, adding the Ministry was working “on a daily basis” on the issue.

She also noted the Georgian Government would once again raise the question of release of the illegally arrested citizens at the upcoming Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Meeting, scheduled for June 7 in the village of Ergneti.

The Minister added her team was working to develop new approaches “in line with existing needs” of the population in the occupied regions, which would make policies “even more effective” and make “substantial progress” toward reconciling the communities on both sides of the administrative line marking the occupation.