Reconciliation Minister, CoE delegation review situation in Russian-occupied territories
The parties also discussed the progress achieved in the implementation of the reconciliation and engagement policy, future visions aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the population affected by the conflict, and deepening of the dialogue based on common interests and restoring trust between them. Photo: Reconciliation Ministry
Tweet 
Share
The “difficult” legal and humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia were discussed on Monday in a meeting between Tea Akhvlediani, the Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality and a delegation of the Council of Europe.
The Office said the meeting saw the domestic body provide “comprehensive information” to the delegation for the consolidated report by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, which will outline the present state of affairs in Georgia's occupied areas, as well as the process of implementation of the Government’s peaceful policy with regards to them.
It also covered discussions on “severe violations” of the fundamental rights of the local population, ethnic discrimination, restrictions on free movement, illegal construction of barbed wire and other artificial barriers along the occupation line, illegal detention of Georgian citizens, as well as the prohibition of education in native language.
The Minister extended her gratitude to delegation members for their “firm support” of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders of the Georgia and emphasised the “important” role of the Council of Europe in the process of peaceful resolution of the conflict - including reconciliation and engagement - by promoting restoration of trust between communities divided by the conflicts on the Georgian territory.
The meeting also noted the “greater significance” of the consolidated reports in the absence of human rights monitoring mechanisms in the territories.
The parties also discussed the progress achieved in the implementation of the reconciliation and engagement policy, future visions aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the population affected by the conflict, and deepening of the dialogue based on common interests and restoring trust between them.
The Council of Europe delegation “positively evaluated” the efforts of the Georgian Government and promised “full support” to the Georgian side in the process.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi and four other regions of the country on Wednesday marked the International Day of the Disappeared, celebrated annually in order to honour messing individuals and to increase public awareness of the issue.
The security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) on the backdrop of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine were in focus of a meeting between Tea Akhvlediani, Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, Lasha Darsalia, the Deputy Foreign Minister, and Ruslan Abashidze, the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia on Thursday.
Thea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, on Thursday said an updated strategy and action plan with regards to the country’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions and the conflict-affected population was expected to “give a new impetus” to the reconciliation process and confidence-building through a “depoliticised dialogue”.
Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian state minister for reconciliation and civil equality, on Monday met Peter Fischer, the newly appointed German ambassador, to discuss the Russian occupation of Georgian territories and existing ties between Georgia and Germany, the minister’s office said.
Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, on Thursday visited the central Shida Kartli region to discuss the needs of the conflict-affected population living near the occupation line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, the state body said.
The Council of Europe’s “unwavering commitment” to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the Council’s support to the country’s European path, was reviewed on Wednesday by Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia and Marija Pejčinović Burić, the CoE Secretary General.