Georgian State Security Service Head, OSCE Special Representative discuss Russian occupation

The current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service of Georgia and Ambassador Viorel Moșanu, the Special Representative of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Chairman-in-Office for the South Caucasus.

The Service said the officials discussed the situation along the occupation line, security challenges and killing of Georgian citizens by the occupation forces, and highlighted the topic of unconditional release of nationals illegally detained in the occupied territories and the illegal process of borderisation.

• Killing of Georgian citizen by occupation forces raised at Geneva International Discussions

The parties also emphasised the “active involvement” of Moșanu and Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions - a platform for talks between Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the occupied regions - in the ongoing processes in relation to the developments.

The meeting also pointed out the “special role” of the European Union Monitoring mission in the country for ensuring stability along the occupation line, and noted the Mission's “urgent need for unrestricted access” to the occupied territories according to its mandate.

The officials also highlighted the need to “effectively use and strengthen” the potential of the existing negotiation formats, such as meetings of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism.