Lithuania Imposes Restrictions on Human Rights Violators in Occupied Territories

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Lithuania addressed the Migration Department, proposing they include in the list of undesirable persons those individuals who contributed to violations of human rights in the occupied territories of Georgia.

The ministry released the statement on August 2, saying the Russian Federation has occupied about 20% of Georgia (Sakartvelo) in violation of international law, recognized the "independence" of the occupied territories, deployed a large military force in them, and carried out “creeping annexation”.

“In addition, Russia continues to incite tensions along the administrative lines directly and by making use of the local "authorities," as well as restricting and violating human rights,” the statement says. They added that the 10th anniversary of Russia's military aggression in Sakartvelo will be marked on 8 August 2018.

The Lithuanian MFA also mentions the cases of Georgian citizens Giga Otkhozoria and Archil Tatunashvili, who were killed by occupant forces at the breakaway regions.

On 21 March 2018, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Resolution on Gross Violation of Human Rights by the Russian Federation in Occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions and the “Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili Act”. On 26 June, the Georgian government adopted a decision to impose national restrictive measures against those responsible for the violations.

“Taking into consideration the request of the Government of Saktarvelo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania addressed the Migration Department on 2 August, proposing to impose national restrictive measures against these individuals,” the ministry stated.

In addition, the statement reads that Lithuania has most actively denounced the “creeping annexation” of Georgia by the Russian Federation and all related violations of international law and human rights, and has called for their discontinuation. 

“Lithuania continues to call on the Russian Federation to establish conditions for ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to stop all illegal actions in the territory of Sakartvelo,” the statement says.

By Thea Morrison

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