Georgia’s Delegation to PACE Registers Draft Resolution on Occupied Territories

Georgia’s parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by First Deputy Parliament Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili, has registered a draft document with the title "Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Territories of Georgia."

The document details steps the Russian Federation has made towards the occupation and annexation of Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, including the signature of the Integration Agreement, a Referendum in Tskhinvali region and Parliamentary elections in Abkhazia, saying they represent threat not only to Georgia but to the whole region.

The resolution petition also describes the humanitarian state in the occupied regions, including violation and restriction of fundamental rights of citizens residing at the administration border. These violations include the restriction of freedom of movement, which was further aggravated by closing two more check-points at the administrative line.

In the document, PACE calls on the Russian Federation to enable the access of international monitoring missions to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to reverse recognition of occupied territories and to stop ongoing occupation and fulfill the internationally undertaken commitments, including the August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.

“Despite the commitment of the Government of Georgia to resolve the conflict peacefully and concrete steps undertaken to normalize relations with Russia, there is no reciprocity from the Russian side,” the document says. “We all know that the situation in these territories is grave and discrimination against ethnic Georgians is even graver. Unfortunately, international organizations are not allowed to estimate the situation on site. The idea of the resolution was highly supported and we will likely start development of the Resolution at the next session,” Chugoshvili stated.

The Deputy Speaker of Georgia said that the document was signed by the MPs of various member states of the Parliamentary Assembly.

By Thea Morrison