Publication N17 / Review Period: December 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.

Citizens Detained and Released

Release of Giorgi Jarmelashvili

On December 1, a Georgian citizen Giorgi Jarmelashvili who was illegally detained a few days earlier in the vicinity of the village of Zemo Artsevi, the Gori municipality, was released and transferred to the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia. The occupation forces accused Jarmelashvili  of illegal crossing of the so-called border.

Detention and Release of Manuchar Gulitashvili

The occupation forces illegally detained Manuchar Gulitashvili, a resident of the village of Perevi, the Sachkhere municipality, while fishing on charges of illegally crossing the so-called border. He was detained in the part of the village which is controlled by the central government of Georgia. Gulitashvili was released on Deceber 21, three days after the arrest.

Photo 1.  Release of Manuchar Gulitashvili. Source:  ssg.ge

“Borderization” and Ongoing Activities Along the Occupation Line

On December 17, the Power is in Unity anti-occupational movement noticed a special purpose construction while patroling in the vicinity of the village of Sakorintlo, the Kaspi municipality. As the leader of the anti-occupation movement, Davit Katsarava, explained, the construction is a special parking lot for a radio-electronic reconnaissance vehicle.  

The Security Service of Georgia has not made any statement regarding the fact. So far, it is not known for certain whether the hotline of the European Union was activated or not over the crossing of the occupation line and the illegal works conducted on the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia by the occupation regime.

Photo 2:  Construction Installed in the Village of Sakorintlo. Source:  Davit Katsarava's Personal Facebook Page

Important Visits

Charles Fries's visit to the Occupation Line

On December 14, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, Charles Fries, visited occupationa line sections in the villages of Zemo Nikozi and Dvani, the Gori municipality. Tibor Kozma, the Acting Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, hosted and personally briefed the guest about the latest developments on the ground; in particular, the continuous “borderization” process, illegal detentions and a successful initiative of periodic opening of checkpoints.

Photo 3. Charles Fries's Visit. Source: eumm.eu