Icelandic President visits occupation line in central Georgia

Guðni Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland, on Wednesday visited the central Georgian village of Odzisi to observe the administrative line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country.

Tea Akhvlediani, the Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, and representatives from the State Security Service accompanied Jóhannesson, who was introduced to security situation along the occupation line and circumstances in the occupied regions, as well as efforts made by the Georgian Government within its peaceful conflict resolution policy.

This is a beautiful part of this beautiful country, and citizens here should be able to move freely and live peacefully together [...]. My visit today may have some symbolic value, and all I can say is we should not tolerate such a situation. A solution needs to be found, and the international community must understand its obligations”, Jóhannesson said.

Akhvlediani emphasised the necessity of continued cooperative efforts with international partners to ensure the “fundamental rights and freedoms” of citizens affected by the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict, including free movement, and “immediate release” of Georgian citizens illegally detained by the occupation forces.

She said informing international partners of the “serious consequences” of the ongoing illegal occupation in the country, as well as their “active involvement and continued support” in peaceful resolution of the conflict, was “essential and extremely important”.

The Minister noted the visiting President had been presented information on “severe violations of fundamental human rights”, the situation created by humanitarian challenges, illegal barriers built along the administrative line by occupation forces, illegal detentions and killing of Georgian citizens by the de facto authorities.