Georgia’s Breakaway Regions Discussed at 39th Round of Geneva Int’l Talks

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports that the 39th round of the International Talks of Geneva, established since the August War between Georgia and Russia in 2008, was held on March 28-29, where Georgian side condemned Russia’s actions in Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali).

The talks were co-chaired by representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as delegates from Georgia, Russia and the United States (US), and authorities from de facto Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

MFA reports that the talks were held within a two meeting-group format. At one meeting the sides discussed security and stability issues in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, while the second meeting concerned the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes.

Georgian delegation reviewed the security situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and condemned upcoming referendum on changing Tskhinvali’s name to "the Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania” similar to the name of the North Ossetia-Alania, which is a federal subject of Russia.

Moreover, Georgian representatives also condemned the so-called military deal over the unification of South Ossetian and Russian armies under the Russian Armed Forces which was assessed as another illegal move towards the annexation of the region.

Also, the transportation of missile complexes to Abkhazia by Russia, intensive militarization and military drills in both breakaway regions were also assessed as the violation of the August 2008 ceasefire agreement violation.

The installation of barbed wire fences and new border signs, the kidnapping of Georgian citizens and depriving the local youth of an education in their mother tongue, also the reduction of so called "checkpoints" at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) of Abkhazia was also condemned by Georgian representatives.

The co-chairs raised the Khurcha incident, where an unarmed 31 year-old citizen of Georgia, Giga Otkhozoria, was gunned down by Russian border guards on Georgian-controlled territory in the village of Khurcha, close to the Nabakevi Crossing Point at the ABL on May 19, 2016. They said the murderer, who is an Abkhazian citizen and who is wanted by Interpol, should be detained as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the Georgian Delegation raised the issue of IDPs and their safe return to their homes in the occupied regions of Georgia. During the discussions, the representatives of the Russian Federation left the discussions in protest.

The next round of Geneva Talks has been scheduled for June 20-21, 2017.

Thea Morrison