Publication N7 / Review Period: February 1-28, 2022 / Author: Elene Mindiashvili

Monitoring of the Situation at the Occupation Line in the Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review the situation and ongoing important developments near the occupation line in the Tskhinvali region. The review will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the mentioned topic.

Detained Citizens

In February, the number of Georgian citizens illegally detained in the Tskhinvali prison remained the same. There were no new cases of illegal detention near the occupation line, and Georgian citizens detained in recent months were not released. According to the February data, six illegally detained Georgian citizens remain in the Tskhinvali prison: Lasha Khetereli, Zaza Megrelishvili, Tamaz Gogichashvili, Kakha Natadze, Valeri Kaniashvili and Mamuka Chkhikvadze.

Death of Gennady Bestaev

Gennady Bestaev, a Georgian citizen who was detained five times by the occupation regime and was transferred from the Tskhinvali prison to Tbilisi in November with a diagnosis of a stroke, passed away at the Redi Clinic on February 16.

Trials

According to the information spread by Davit Katsarava, the leader of the Power is in Unity anti-occupation movement, the hearing of cases of three illegally detained Georgian citizens - Mamuka Chkhikvadze, Valeri Kaniashvili and Kakha Natadze, which was scheduled for February 21, were indefinitely postponed.

“Borderization” and Ongoing Activities Along the Occupation Line

Borderization in the Village of Mereti

On February 20, near the village of Mereti, in the Gori municipality, representatives of the occupation forces installed poles on the already existing barbed wires, which, according to residents, will lead to the erection of a metal fence in the near future.

New Poles in Mereti. Source: gmnews.com.ge

Inscription in Support of Ukraine

On February 14, civil activists inscribed Glory to Ukraine solidarity words on a banner mounted on the boundary of the villages or Zardiaantkari (the Gori municipality) and Orchosani (the occupied Akhalgori). The de facto State Security Committee accuses Georgian activists of the state border violation and vandalism. According to them, respective authorities of the de facto republic have already launched an investigation into the matter.

Banner with the Glory to Ukraine Inscription. Source:  cominf.org

Patrolling Intensity

The intensity of patrolling on the occupation line has been increased since December. The intensity increased even more in parallel with the escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine in February. On February 24, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov, convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council which established an operational headquarters under his guide to implement the Agreement on Alliance and Integration between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation and to secure the Republic of South Ossetia and its citizens. He expressed readiness to respond to all provocative threats from Georgia [as a state “possibly” involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war]. Mr. Bibilov also noted that all units of the “Ministries” of Defense and Interior were in a special mode of operation and issued an order to ensure “all necessary actions for monitoring the border and the territory adjacent to Georgia.”

Important Visits

On 3 February, Sven Mikser, Estonian Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on Georgia, together with Marek Szczygieł, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Goergia (EUMM), visited the occupation line. During the field visit, Mr. Mikser was briefed on the intensity of the borderization process in recent months and the problems and challenges which locals are facing on both sides of the occupation line.

Sven Mikser's Visit to the Occupation Line. Source:  eumm.eu