Release of illegally detained Georgian citizens, developments along occupation line in focus of IPRM meeting

Release of Georgian citizens illegally detained by Russian occupation forces and developments along the occupation line in Georgia were in focus of the 118th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting in Ergneti, the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia said on Wednesday.

Irakli Antadze, the Deputy Head of the Analytical Department of the Georgian State Security Service, said the Georgian side had once again “strictly demanded” the “severe” punishment of individuals responsible for the killing of a Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi during an attempt of his illegal arrest by occupation forces in November 2023.

• Gov’t demands release of detained citizen, punishment of individuals responsible for killing of Georgian national in occupied territory at meeting

The occupation regime claimed that so-called border guards “acted within the law” during the illegal arrest of Ginturi, Antadze noted.

IPRM participants also reviewed the ongoing challenges faced by the conflict-affected communities, including recent security incidents and detentions. The release of the remaining detainees was advocated by the EUMM and OSCE at the platform for facilitating talks between the Georgian agencies and de facto authorities of the occupied region.

Discussions also focused on the recent security developments at the Administrative Boundary Line, including the installation of physical barriers, such as fences and barbed wire, as well as activities of security actors, with Antadze stressing that occupation forces were trying to “legalise an extremely destructive process with absurd arguments”.

The participants agreed to hold the next regular IPRM meeting on May 16 and a technical meeting on water irrigation issues on April 26.