US Dep't of State Human Rights Report Emphasizes Violations in Abkhazia, S.Ossetia

De facto authorities in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are restricting rights, especially those of ethnic Georgians, says 2019 Human Rights Report published by the US Department of State.

"De facto authorities in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remained outside central government control and were supported by Russian forces. A 2008 ceasefire remained in effect. Russian border guards restricted the movement of local populations.

"While there was little official information on the human rights and humanitarian situation in South Ossetia due to limited access, allegations of abuse persisted. De facto authorities in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia restricted the rights, especially of ethnic Georgians, to vote or otherwise participate in the political process, own property, register businesses, and travel. De facto South Ossetian authorities refused to permit most ethnic Georgians driven out by the 2008 conflict to return to South Ossetia,” the report reads.

The document emphasizes that de facto authorities did not allow most international organizations regular access to South Ossetia to provide humanitarian assistance. Russian 'borderization' of the administrative boundary lines (ABLs) increased, separating residents from their communities and livelihoods.

“In July de facto Abkhaz authorities arrested Anzor Tarba in Abkhazia. Tarba died in custody, and de facto Abkhaz authorities later arrested lead investigator Badri Jirkiba and three other officials, charging them with “torture with particular cruelty, leading to the death of a detainee.” The de facto ombudsman of Abkhazia claimed there was widespread torture in the Abkhaz penitentiary system. In March, Georgian citizen Irakli Kvaratskhelia died while in custody of Russian “border guards” in Abkhazia, who detained him for allegedly “illegally” crossing the ABL with Abkhazia. Georgian authorities viewed Kvaratskhelia’s case as one in a continuing pattern of arbitrary detentions of Georgian citizens for “illegally” crossing the ABL,” the report reads.

The US Department of State underlines that more than 2,300 individuals remained missing following the 1992-93 war in Abkhazia and the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

By Ana Dumbadze