Publication N16 / Review Period: November 1-30, 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.

Important Meetings

IPRM Meeting in the Village of Ergneti

On November 10, 2022, the 109th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in the village of Ergneti, the Gori municipality. The meeting was co-chaired by the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, the Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in the South Caucasus, Ambassador Viorel Moșanu. 

The official Tbilisi voiced and attached priority to issues such as: the growing dynamics of the “borderization,” the increasing trend of illegal arrests and the release of Georgian citizens illegally detained in the Tskhinvali prison. The Ossetian side, like the previous meetings, demanded the dismantling of the disputed Chorchana-Tsnelis checkpoint. Igor Kochiev, the so-called Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative to the President on Post-Conflict Settlement Issues and the Head of the South Ossetian delegation also spoke about the facts of “illegal intrusion” of unmanned aerial vehicles from the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia into the “air zone” of the de facto republic of the Tskhinvali region.

Despite the existence of disputed issues, both sides welcomed the trend of periodic opening of the so-called border checkpoints during the last ten days of each month. The co-chairs also approved the mentioned initiative and called on the parties to continue the cooperation on the mentioned issue next year.

More details about the meeting see here.

Citizens Detained and Released

Arrest of Three Ctizens in the Village of Mejvriskhevi

On November 1, three citizens of Georgia were illegally arrested near the village of Mejvriskhevi, on the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia. Of these, two adults, Vladimer Jokhadze and Malkhaz Tielidze, are from the same village, and one minor detained is a resident of the village of Zerti, the Gori municipality. According to the locals, they were hunting at the time of their arrest. The occupation regime released the minor on November 3, and Jokhadze and Tielidze were released on November 4.

Release of Vladimir Jokhadze and Malkhaz Tielidze. Source:  Facebook Page of the SSS.

Arrest of Giorgi Jarmelashvili

On November 24, the occupation regime illegally detained Giorgi Jarmelashvili, a resident of the village of Artsevi, the Gori municipality, adjacent to his village, on the territory controlled by the Central Government of Georgia. He spend a week in the Tskhinvali prison and then was handed over to the Georgian side.

“Borderization” and Ongoing Activities Along the Occupation Line

“Borderization” in the Vilalge of Atotsi

As the State Security Service reported, the occupation forces resumed the “borderization” process near the village of Atotsi, the Kareli municipality. They installed new metal constructions and renewed barbed wire. The EUMM Hotline was immediately activated about the ongoing illegal activities.

“Borderization” Near the Vilalge of Sakorintlo

As the Ossetian news agency “Res” reports, the occupation forces started the so-called border demarcation works on November 30, adjacent to the village Sakorintlo, the Kaspi municipality, the territory controlled by the occupation regime. According to the news agency, the process is being conducted “in accordance with the legislation” and is aimed at protecting the population of the “Republic of South Ossetia.”

Watch the video shooting of the “borderization” process here.

Photo 2:  “Borderization” Process in the Village of Sakorintlo. Source:  Davit Katsarava's Facebook page.

Important Visits

Estonian Delegation Visits the Village of Odzisi

On November 8, an Estonian delegation led by the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Jonathan Vseviov, together with the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, the Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, visited the so-called checkpoint of the village Odzisi, the Dusheti municipality.

Visit of the Estonian Delegation. Source: eumm.eu

On the ground, Marek Szczygieł briefed the delegation on the current situation relating to the protracted closure of checkpoints and the continuing process of “borderization” which prevents the creation of peaceful and stable living conditions for the population on both sides of the occupation line, hinders their access to health, education, pension and other services and restricts their right of free movement.