UN General Assembly adopts resolution on status of IDPs, refugees from Georgia's Russian-occupied regions
The resolution, which the Georgian foreign office said had received the "highest ever" number of 100 votes in favour, condemns the “demographic changes" carried out by force in the Russian-occupied regions of the country. Photo: UN / Website
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The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Georgia's Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The resolution, which the Georgian foreign office said had received the "highest ever" number of 100 votes in favour, condemns the “demographic changes" carried out by force in the Russian-occupied regions of the country.
It also affirms the right of IDPs, regardless of ethnicity, to return to their homes with “dignity and safety”, and emphasises the need to respect and protect their property rights.
During its 77th session, the UNGA adopted the resolution on "Status of IDPs & Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia & Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia" with highest ever 100 votes in favor. Thank you to the int'l community for their support for ????????'s sovereignty& terr integrity.
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) June 7, 2023
“In addition to the humanitarian context, the resolution also has a practical impact, since it instructs the UN Secretary General to prepare an annual report on the situation of the displaced population living in Georgia and the implementation of the resolution. This acquires special importance in the light of the difficult situation in terms of human rights in the territories of Georgia occupied by Russia and the absence of international monitoring mechanisms”, the Georgian foreign office noted.
Georgia’s pragmatic policy and parliamentary diplomacy bear fruits and strengthen legal foundation for peaceful and dignified return of IDPs into currently Russia-occupied regions of Georgia.
— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) June 8, 2023
The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on Status of IDPs and Refugees from… pic.twitter.com/Zybdog0gy1
The resolution also calls on the participants of the Geneva International Discussions to “step up” their efforts to improve the security and human rights situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, which in turn “will facilitate the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said in reaction to the adoption of the document the Government's “pragmatic policy" and parliamentary diplomacy “bear fruits" and "strengthen the legal foundation" for an eventual "peaceful and dignified" return of IDPs to the regions.
In his turn, the top Georgian diplomat Ilia Darchiashvili thanked the international community for their support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.