Publication N12 / Review Period: July 1-31, 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 July, there was no illegal detention in the area adjacent to the occupation line in the Tskhinvali region.

“Borderization” and Ongoing Activities Along the Occupation Line

Renewed Barbed Wire in Kvaisa-Iri section

According to the information of Davit Katsarava, the leader of the Power is in Unity anti-occupational movement, representatives of the occupation regime renewed barbed wires, installed a motion detector and started cleaning adjacent area of an operational base located in the occupied settlement of Kvaisa (municipality of the Oni settlement).

Renewed Barbed Wire in Zemo Artsev

In the second half of July, activities of the occupation forces were observed near the occupation line in the village of Zemo Artsev (municipality of the village of Eredvi). According to the locals, the occupation line was not extended to the territory controlled by the Georgian authorities, although a new barbed wire fence was erected. As a result, the village of Zemo Artsevi was completely fenced.

Installation of the new watchtower in Khurvaleti

Davit Katsarava, leader of the anti-occupation movement Power is in Unity disseminated the information about the installation of the new Russian watchtower in Village Khurvaleti, Gori Municipality. According to his assumption, the new installation appeared in the period of July 16-23.

Important Visits

Visit of MEPs

On July 21, a delegation of the European Parliament led by the Chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, visited the Odzisi section of the occupation line. The Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, informed members of the delegation about the situation on the ground, and the effects of the “borderization” process and the protracted closure of crossing points on the daily life of the locals.

Visit of the President of the United Nations General Assembly

On July 25, the President of the UN General Assembly and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, visited the Odzisi section of the occupation line where the European Union Monitoring Mission informed him about the latest developments in the field of security and humanitarian challenges which the population living on both sides of the occupation line face.