85th IPRM Meeting in Ergneti Ends without Consensus

The 85th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting in Ergneti on March 1, 2018, ended without consensus after representatives of Georgia’s occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) did not give clear answers to the Georgian side regarding the transfer of the body of Archil Tatunashvili, a Georgian man, who was kidnapped on February 22 by the occupant forces of breakaway Tskhinvali, and later died in unclear circumstances the following day.

The representatives of Georgia also asked the de facto South Ossetian side to transfer two other illegally detained Georgian nationals, Levan Kutashvili and Ioseb Pavliashvili, who were kidnapped along with Tatunashvili.

However, the representatives of the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia did not receive clear answers to the requests, and refused to participate in protest of the discussions of issues envisaged by the agenda of IPRM.

“We are ready to continue discussions on every important issue, including those that were envisaged by today’s agenda, after the body of Tatunashvili is transferred to his family,” Kakhaber Kemoklidze, Deputy Head of Information-Analytical Department of the SSS of Georgia stated in Ergneti.

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.

European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia says the recent developments that took place in Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia (region, the occupation line and its vicinities) in the period of 24 January, 2018 - February 28 were discussed at the meeting.

Erik Høeg, Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Mr. James C. O’Shea, representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), co-facilitated the meeting. 

EUMM reports all participants expressed condolences to the family of Tatunashvili, adding the co-facilitators called for a transparent investigation and smooth exchange of information regarding the tragic death. They also stated that the body of the deceased person will be handed over to his family as soon as possible.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: ssg.gov.ge