OSCE delegates visit occupation line in central Georgia for brief on Russian aggression
OSCE PA officials on Thursday visited the occupation line in central Georgia. Photo: Parliament press office
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Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday visited the line in central Georgia’s village of Odzisi that separates the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, and were briefed on Russia’s occupation efforts along the administrative divide.
Hosted by Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Head of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Georgian Parliament and the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, the officials - Farah Karimi, the deputy Chair of the Committee and Jonah Buser, the Rapporteur of the organisation - were briefed over activities of the occupation forces in and adjacent to Administrative Boundary Line.
#OSCEPA #humanrights leaders @Samkharadze79, @Farah_Karimi, @JohanBuser on working visit to #Georgia to discuss committee activities in coming months. With meetings scheduled w/ parliamentary & govt reps & #civilsociety, priorities and coordination of human rights work in focus. pic.twitter.com/4rNSXGdKBD
— OSCE PA (@oscepa) January 11, 2023
They also received general information on Russia’s annexation efforts over the years since the 2008 war between the two countries, as well as human rights violations in the territory through the de-facto authorities’ illegal prohibitions of free movement for locals and their breaching of the rights of the internally displaced residents to return to their homes.
Periodic Illegal detentions of Georgian citizens along the occupation line and related matters in the scope of PA competencies were also detailed to the visiting delegation, with Karimi noting it was “important” to observe the situation in the area in person.
Samkharadze said the visiting OSCE officials would reflect their impressions in the report of the PA Committee, with the topics also set to be discussed at the annual session of the Assembly.
Russia recognised the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states following its 2008 conflict with Georgia, with only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria joining its illegal move so far. The rest of the international community is unanimous in its recognition that the regions are occupied by Russia, with responsibility for violations involving the territories placed on the country.