The News in Brief
Monday, February 19, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Two Georgian Citizens Illegally Detained by Russian Occupation Forces in Kareli
The Russian occupation forces have illegally arrested two Georgian citizens near the village of Knolevi in Kareli municipality.
As per the State Security Service of Georgia, the incident occurred within the occupied territory. Upon receiving this report, the European Union Monitoring Mission activated its hotline. Furthermore, the co-chairs of the Geneva international discussions and international partners were promptly briefed.
"All existing mechanisms have been activated to release illegally detained Georgian citizens in the shortest possible time. Responsibility for all destructive actions committed on the occupied territories of Georgia, as well as along the occupation line, rests with the occupying power," the Security Service's statement reads.
However, the de facto security agency of South Ossetia stated that Georgian citizens were arrested for 'vandalism'.
"Two citizens of Georgia, under the influence of alcohol, illegally entered the territory of South Ossetia and vandalised the engineering facilities used for the protection and security of the interstate dividing line. The perpetrators recorded their illegal actions on mobile phones, presumably to report to the overseers of pro-Western non-profit organisations aiming to promote 'European' values, including LGBT values, in the region, and to destabilise South Ossetia and Georgia ahead of the pre-election campaign," the KGB statement reads.
President Zourabichvili Speaks on Coalition Governance Potential to Reduce Polarisation
In an interview with EURACTIV, in response to the question about pressuring the government to implement EU reform recommendations, particularly concerning polarisation, President Salome Zourabichvili expressed less concern about polarisation, citing the struggles of even developed nations like European countries and the United States to reduce it.
Zourabichvili suggested that the outcome of elections might influence polarisation, especially if a coalition government forms, forcing parties to govern together and potentially reducing polarisation.
"I am not too concerned about [polarisation] in this regard, because nobody knows how to reduce polarisation - none of the European countries, not the United States.
In a way, it will also depend on the [outcome] of the elections. If there is no clear majority and we will have a coalition government - maybe it is time for Georgia to test [that]. And if that is the case, that will be the end of the polarisation, because we will have to learn to govern with one another.
But there are recommendations that have to be followed. Again, the first responsibility is that of the government and the parliament. And we're going to see what they're going to do in the coming few months because it has to be very quick," Zourabichvili said.
Two Georgian Citizens Illegally Detained by Russian Occupation Forces in Kareli
As per the State Security Service of Georgia, the incident occurred within the occupied territory. Upon receiving this report, the European Union Monitoring Mission activated its hotline. Furthermore, the co-chairs of the Geneva international discussions and international partners were promptly briefed.
"All existing mechanisms have been activated to release illegally detained Georgian citizens in the shortest possible time. Responsibility for all destructive actions committed on the occupied territories of Georgia, as well as along the occupation line, rests with the occupying power," the Security Service's statement reads.
However, the de facto security agency of South Ossetia stated that Georgian citizens were arrested for 'vandalism'.
"Two citizens of Georgia, under the influence of alcohol, illegally entered the territory of South Ossetia and vandalised the engineering facilities used for the protection and security of the interstate dividing line. The perpetrators recorded their illegal actions on mobile phones, presumably to report to the overseers of pro-Western non-profit organisations aiming to promote 'European' values, including LGBT values, in the region, and to destabilise South Ossetia and Georgia ahead of the pre-election campaign," the KGB statement reads.
President Zourabichvili Speaks on Coalition Governance Potential to Reduce Polarisation
Zourabichvili suggested that the outcome of elections might influence polarisation, especially if a coalition government forms, forcing parties to govern together and potentially reducing polarisation.
"I am not too concerned about [polarisation] in this regard, because nobody knows how to reduce polarisation - none of the European countries, not the United States.
In a way, it will also depend on the [outcome] of the elections. If there is no clear majority and we will have a coalition government - maybe it is time for Georgia to test [that]. And if that is the case, that will be the end of the polarisation, because we will have to learn to govern with one another.
But there are recommendations that have to be followed. Again, the first responsibility is that of the government and the parliament. And we're going to see what they're going to do in the coming few months because it has to be very quick," Zourabichvili said.