State of Emergency Extended in Russian-Occupied Areas

Parliament approved on September 18 a presidential decree prolonging the state of emergency in the areas currently occupied by Russian troops until October 3.

The decree says that Russia has “partially” complied with its commitment undertaken under the September 8 agreement between the Russian and French presidents by withdrawing troops from the areas on the Poti-Senaki line, where Russia had five outposts. As a result, the state of emergency will be lifted in Poti and Senaki.

It also says that the state of emergency is still required in the areas where Russian troops remain, as those forces “pose a threat of destabilization.” Russia has committed itself under the September 8 agreement to pulling out its forces from areas outside Abkhazia and South Ossetia within ten days after the deployment of EU monitors in those areas. An EU monitoring mission should be in place by October 1, according to the agreement.

Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, said on September 18 that Parliament would prepare "a law on occupation" before October 3, providing a legal replacement for the state of emergency.

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