Developments in Occupied Abkhazia Discussed at 47th IPRM Meeting in Gali

All important incidents that took place in Georgia’s occupied region of Abkhazia from May 31–June 27 period were raised by the Georgian side at the 47th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by United Nations with participation of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), which took place in Gali on June 28, 2017.

Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) reports that particular attention during the meeting was paid to the issue of illegal detention of Achiko and Paata Rogava, residents of village Rike, Zugdidi region.

“The so-called imprisonment of the above-mentioned individuals violates fundamental human rights and they should be released unconditionally,” the SSS statement reads.

Georgian representatives also raised the issue of Giga Otkhozoria murder, who was killed on Georgian-controlled territory near the administrative boundary line with Abkhazia on May 19, 2016. The Georgian man was shot six times, including once in the head. He was rushed to hospital but died soon after. He left behind a wife and two children. 

Georgian side presented conclusive report as well as shared position that it’s is necessary to detain murderer of Otkhozoria, Abkhazian citizen Rashid Kanji-Oghli, and demanded his transfer to Georgia in order to bring him to criminal justice.

During the previous IPRM meeting, the representatives of the Abkhazian government informed the representatives of the State Security Service of Georgia that the de-facto Abkhazian authorities stopped persecution of Rashid Kanji-Oghli.

The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism was created in February 2009 as a result of the Geneva discussions that followed the 2008 conflict in Georgia. The meetings are an opportunity to identify potential risks and problems facing the local community, follow up on incidents, and exchange information.

Georgian representatives at the IPRM meetings are from the State Security Service and the Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ministry of Georgia.

The next meeting of the Gali IPRM is scheduled for July 26.

By Thea Morrison