Publication N19 / Review Period: February 1-28, 2023 / 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.

Citizent Released

Release of Gela Iobashvili

On February 6, a resident of the village of Perevi (Sachkhere municipality), Gela Iobashvili, who was illegally detained by the occupation forces in the vicinity of the village of Perevi on September 14, 2022, was released and handed over to representatives of the Central Government of Goergia. As a preventive measure, Iobashvili was sentenced to two months of imprisonment, although he spent five months in illegal detention.

Release of Lasha Khetereli

On February 28, the occupation forces released Lasha Khetereli, a resident of the village of Shaumiani (Marneuli municipality). Khetereli periodically visits his relatives living in the Tskhinvali region, which is why he was arrested for the sixth time on January 5 last year.

Important Visits

Visit of a Croatian Delegation to the village of Odzisi

On February 10, the Acting Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Tibor Kozma, hosted a delegation from Croatia chaired by the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gordan Grlić Radman, at the Odzisi crossing point. Tibor Kozma briefed the delegation about the security situation and recent developments along the administrative border line. During the visit, they also talked about the negative impact of “borderization,” illegal detentions and protracted closure of checkpoints over the lives of both communities living along the occupation line.

Visit of the Croatian Delegation. Source:  eumm.eu

Visit of the EU Civilian Operations Commander to Khurvaleti

On February 22, Stefano Tomat, the EU Civilian Operations Commander, together with the recently appointed Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Dimitrios Karabalis, visited the village of Khurvaleti (Gori municipality). On the ground, representatives of the Mission spoke about security-related threats and risks. Stefano Tomat, for his part, emphasized the strong and long-term commitment of the European Union to bring stability and security in Georgia.

Visit of the EU Civilian Operations Commander. Source:  eumm.eu