Georgian population in occupied territories are “victims of severe human rights violations” - FM to OSCE Ministerial Council

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the Georgian population living in the country’s occupied territories were “victims of severe human rights violations” at the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

In his address to the Ministerial Council, Darchiashvili noted the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by Russian-controlled occupation forces earlier this month, on the territory adjacent to the occupied Tskhinvali, was “another act of violence against ethnic Georgians”, adding illegal arrests and abductions “have become an established practice”, endangering people's lives.

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He stressed the conflict-affected population were separated from their relatives, isolated by barbed wire fences from their agricultural lands and religious services, and “deprived” of freedom of movement, as well as basic needs.

Russia's war against Georgia was the first open attempt to forcibly change the borders of a sovereign state after the Cold War. For more than 15 years, Russia has been continuing its illegal occupation of the indivisible regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), in gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law”, the FM stressed.

The full-scale military aggression carried out by Russia against Georgia in 2008, violating international norms, was followed by the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing aggression against the country, Darchiashvili emphasised.

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In his speech, the FM once again expressed Georgia's support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and confirmed his country's commitment to the OSCE principles.

The firm and consolidated position of the international community is of great importance for Russia to stop aggression, fulfil its international obligations, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours and withdraw its forces from the illegally occupied territories”, he added.

Darchiashvili also highlighted Georgia’s peaceful resolution policy, saying this approach had “two main goals” - de-occupation of the country’s Russian-occupied territories and the reconciliation of the divided communities.

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In this regard, the Foreign Minister emphasised the important role of the Geneva International Discussions - a platform facilitating talks between the Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the country’s Russian-occupied regions.