Recent developments in occupied territories
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Thursday, August 22
Eight detainees were freed on 20th of August from self-proclaimed Tskhinvali and they are in the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia. Their lives and health are no longer in danger.
As reported by Vazha Siradze, head of the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the released young men were taken to Shida Kartli Police Department for further investigation. They returned to their families afterward.
The ministry of internal affairs, Security Council and state security service, as well as the hotline mechanism, were involved in the process of freeing and peacefully returning illegally captured Georgian citizens.
According to the information, released by the de facto State Security Committee of occupied South Ossetia, families had to pay the court for the release.
Seven citizens of Georgia were kidnapped by Russian soldiers on August 17 due to “illegal border crossing”. They are residents of the village of Akhalubani. What happened was that citizens went to St. George's Church, located near the occupation line where they were arrested. Next day, Russian military captured one more Georgian man, a resident of Didi Mejvriskhevi, the village adjacent to occupied Ardevisi.
Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze visited those released from the Tskhinvali isolator in the Akhalubani village. According to the Prime Minister's press office, the head of the government congratulated the youth on the peaceful return to their families.
“The whole world community needed to stand by us and all of our agencies needed to be involved from the very first minutes. Now the most important thing at this moment is for our boys, our youth, to return peacefully to their families,” said PM.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili and Shida Kartli State Attorney Giorgi Khojevanishvili were in the village together with the Prime Minister.
Bakhtadze also visited Gocha Margishvili's family in the village of Gugutianthkari near the occupation line, who addressed the PM via television a few days ago and requested a meeting. He spoke to Bakhtadze about the needs of the village along the occupation line.
Mamuka Bakhtadze drew attention to ongoing projects in the region and explained that the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects will be accelerated.
“At the request of the population, the problem of drinking water supply will be solved soon, we have completed the road construction, we have provided irrigation infrastructure. The local population is provided with electricity and natural gas,” said Bakhtadze.
According to the head of the government, at the request of the local youth, sports infrastructure will be arranged for the youth. Speaking to locals, the Prime Minister emphasized that the emergence of livelihood in the village is vital for the population. He promised locals to do everything he and his team can make sure that young people can fulfill their potential in their home village.
Meanwhile, the occupation forces resume installation of barbed wire fence in this village. The occupants are observing the so-called border crossing works. In the morning of August 21st, a helicopter appeared on top of the village. State Security Service views the Russian helicopter's violation of Georgian airspace as another provocative act.
“Russian border guards supported by the South Ossetian de facto authorities make fences that impede freedom of movement and the local population, as well as the availability of water resources to prevent,” says the statement, which Heads of EU Missions accredited in Georgia published on 20th August.
On August 15, the US Embassy in Georgia responded to illegal activities in the village. Ambassadors of 6 countries and about 20 representatives of the diplomatic corps got acquainted with the situation on the ground yesterday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani held a telephone conversation with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The sides discussed the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, special attention was paid to the difficult human rights environment.
Zalkaliani provided the EU High Representative with detailed information on the latest developments on the occupation line, including the erection of artificial barriers in the village of Gugutiantkari and restrictions on the right of free movement for locals. The telephone conversation reiterated the important role of the EU in the implementation of the conflict-resolution peace policy, noting, in particular, the need for the EU to maintain Georgia on a high level on the international agenda.
Considering the recent incidents on the occupation line, the need to discuss these issues was highlighted both at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings as well as in the next round of Geneva talks. In this context, the importance of the EU Special Representative's visit to Georgia and assessing the situation on the ground was emphasized.
The Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the High Representative for the work of the EU Monitoring Mission, which is the only international monitoring mechanism on the ground and plays an important role in further de-escalation and security.
As read the statement published by the ministry, the High Representative reaffirmed her support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
