Publication N18 / Review Period: January 1-31, 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.

Important Meetings

IPRM Meeting in the Village of Ergneti

On January 17, 2023, the 110th 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 Acting Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Tibor Kozma, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Viorel Moşanu.

Meeting in Ergneti. Source:  eumm.eu

At the meeting, the Georgian side voiced two key issues: the growing dynamics of “borderization” activities and the increasing trend of illegal detentions. The Georgian side demanded the immediate release of Georgian citizens illegally detained in the Tskhinvali prison.

Representative of the de facto government traditionally demanded the dismantle of the Chorchana-Tsnelisi checkpoint. The head of the so-called South Ossetian delegation, Igor Kochiev, also expressed his displeasure with “the facts of the intrusion of unmanned aerial vehicles into the airspace of South Ossetia from Georgia.”

See more details about the meeting here.

Citizens Detained and Released

Detention of a Georgian Citizen in the Village of Perevi

Representatives of the occupation forces illegally detained a Georgian citizen Soso Dvalishvili near the occupation line in the village of Perevi, the Sachkhere municipality. The detention occurred on January 16, a day before the IPRM meeting.

Detention of Two Georgian Citizens Near the Village of Koshka

On January 3, the occupation forces illegally detained two Georgian citizens near the occupation line adjacent to the village of Koshka, the Gori municipality. The identity of the detainees and the circumstances of their arrest are not known to the media until now.

“Borderization” and Ongoing Activities Along the Occupation Line

“Borderization” Activities at the Village of Dvani

Representatives of the occupation forces installed a new barbed wire fence on the boundary of the villages of Dvani (Kareli municipality) and Muguti (occupied). It became known to the public at the end of January. According to the head of the so-called administration of Muguti, the purpose of the new barrier is to prevent the movement of cattle into the territory controlled by the central government of Georgia.

Important Visits

Austrian Delegation Visits the Village of Odzisi

On January 30, a delegation from Austria, chaired by the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, arrived in the village of Odzisi, the Dusheti municipality. The delegation together with Tibor Kozma, the Acting Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission, visited the so-called crossing point. Tibor Kozma briefed the delegation on the ground about the latest security and humanitarian developments along the administrative border line.

Visit of the Austrian Chancellor. Source:  eumm.eu

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Visits Odzisi

On January 31, within the framework of his two-day working visit to Georgia, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of Moldova, Oleg Serebrian, called on the so-called crossing point of Odzisi. He was hosted by the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, who gave the guest detailed information about the movement along the occupation line in the direction of the Tskhinvali region, the restrictions imposed by the occupation regime, the illegal construction of artificial barriers, the illegal detention of Georgian citizens, as well as other gross violations of human rights.

Visit of the Vice Prime Minister of Moldova. Source:  smr.gov.ge