Gali IPRM Meeting Fails due to Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List

On June 27, the 57th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was arranged in Gali. It was planned to discuss every significant incident and the key developments which in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia since the last meeting, however, the meeting failed as the Russian occupation regime and de-facto government of Abkhazia used the adoption of so-called Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list by the Georgian Government for an apparent "politically motivated action." In particular, they demanded the withdrawal of the Giga Otkhozoria murder case from the agenda of the meeting.

The de facto authorities denounced the Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list set up by the Georgian government, containing 33 persons convicted or charged with grave crimes committed against the citizens of Georgia in the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions since the 1990s.

The representatives of the Central Government stressed that the execution of justice in relation to the murder of Giga Otkhozoria, killed in May 2016 on Georgian territory by so called border guard Rashid Kanji-Oghli, represents the overarching priority.

Representatives of the de-facto Abkhazia and Russian occupation regime left the meeting as soon as the position was voiced by the representatives of the Central Government.

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia reports that divergent positions were expressed by participants regarding one agenda point.

“It did not prove possible to conclude deliberations as some participants did not see a basis for continuing the meeting,” the EUMM added.

The EUMM stated they look forward to a swift resumption of the Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting and will continue to engage constructively to that effect. 

By Thea Morrison

Photo source:  EUMM

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De-facto Abkhazia Slams Georgia for Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili List