EUMM Fieldworkers Detained by South-Ossetian Security Personnel

“On the afternoon of 24 October, a patrol of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) was briefly held by armed South Ossetian security actors while conducting a patrol in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area. The hotline was activated from Tskhinvali shortly after these developments," writes the EUMM website.

The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) informed that earlier today its squad was briefly held by armed South Ossetian security personnel while running a patrol in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi villages, close to the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The mission further reported that the hotline was activated from Tskhinvali shortly afterwards.

The reports said the case will be brought up at tomorrow’s sixth Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting in Ergneti.

The EUMM also announced that “following recent security developments”, it has “significantly increased its patrolling to support stability in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area”.

The mission also emphasized that it is “deeply concerned about cases in which armed security actors prevent EUMM Monitors from conducting their daily activities in accordance with the mandate”.

Erik Hoeg, the Mission Head also wrote on Twitter that “Today EU member states gave final approval to increase the number of #EUMM monitors by 20 - bringing our total strength to 340 staff. Reinforcement will allow #EUMM to increase our monitoring at South Ossetian ABL, including in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area where we are present 24/7.”

By Beka Alexishvili