Publication N20 / Review Period: March 1-31, 2023 / Author: Elene Mindiashvili

Monitoring of the Situation at the Occupation Line 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 publication will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, representatives of media and international governmental or non-governmental organizations,  and other people who are interested in the mentioned topic.

Illegal Detentions and “Borderization” 

In March of this year, there was no signle case recorded of illegal detentions of Georgian citizens by the occupation regime. None of the  illegally detained Georgian citizens were released from the Tskhinvali prison. As of March 31, two Georgian citizens, Mamuka Chkhikvadze and Kakhaber Natadze, remain in the Tskhinvali prison. Chkhikvadze has been in illegal detention since January 12 last year and is serving a 5-year and 6-month sentence in prison for violating Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation as per a decision of the so-called court. Natadze was arrested by the occupation forces on December 10, 2021 and has been in illegal detention for the past 2 years and 4 months.

March was characterized by a decrease in the dynamics of the “borderization” process along the occupation line; however, according to the locals, the intensity of patrolling along the occupation line increased.

111th IPRM Meeting

On March 2, 2023, the 111th  meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in the village (Gori municipality) under the co-facilitation of the new Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Dimitrios Karabalis, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in the South Caucasus, Ambassador Viorel Moşanu.

The parties discussed in detail and individually incidents which occurred after the last meeting and the prospects for the release of the Georgian citizens who remain illegally imprisoned in the Tskhinvali prison. The situation and positions of the parties regarding the Georgian police checkpoint located in the village of Chorchana remain unchanged. Both sides once again expressed their willingness to continue the practice of periodically opening of the so-called crossing checkpoints.

More details about the 111th IPRM meeting, please see here.

Important Visits to the Occupation Line

Visit of a Delegation from the European External Action Service to Odzisi

On March 15, the EU Monitoring Mission hosted a delegation from the European External Action Service (EEAS) in the village of Odzisi. Ambassador Dimitrios Karabalis briefed the delegates on the security situation and recent developments on the ground.

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

Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany to Odzisi

On March 24, the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, together with representatives of the EU Minitoring Mission, visited the so-called crossing checkpoint in the village of Odzisi (Dusheti municipality) and the area around the occupation line.  Ambassador Dimitrios Karabalis briefed the Minister on the humanitarian challenges caused by the protracted closure of checkpoints.

Visit of the German Foreign Minister. Source:  eumm.eu

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Visits Khurvaleti

On March 30, the EU Monitoring Mission was honored to host Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in the village of Khurvaleti (Gori municipality) where she visited the area adjacent to the occupation line. On the ground, Ambassador Dimitrios Karabalis, the Head of the Monitoring Mission, briefed her on the situation in terms of security, the legal situation of the population living on both sides of the occupation line, and other humanitarian aspects. The visit took place in the context of Sweden's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2023.