113th IPRM Meeting Took Place in Ergneti

03/07/2023 - 14:26

Source: EUMM

The 113th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) convened on July 3, in Ergneti, according to Irakli Antadze, Deputy Head of the Analytical Department of the State Security Service. Antadze informed journalists present at the site of the meeting that the release of seven Georgian citizens detained in the Tskhinvali detention center would be a key agenda item.

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Antadze emphasized that all significant incidents reported along the occupation line between the previous meeting on April 27 and today would be also discussed. These incidents include illegal instances of borderization and the enhancement of free movement along the occupation line. As per RFL/RL, Antadze disclosed that four cases of borderization had been identified in the municipalities of Gori and Kareli, since the 112th meeting was held.

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In response to a question from RFL/RL, Antadze addressed the decision of the de-facto government in the occupied Tskhinvali region to grant permission to fire on Georgian drones. Antadze expressed reservations about seriously assessing this development.

“Our efforts are aimed at maintaining a stable environment along the occupation line, and such actions do little to maintain stability,” – Antadze noted.

EUMM Statement

The meeting, co-facilitated by Dimitrios Karabalis of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Viorel Moşanu of the OSCE, commended the participants’ commitment to the IPRM format, according to the press release of the EUMM. They welcomed the temporary opening of crossing points along the Tskhinvali region’s Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) during June’s Lomisoba religious celebrations. The co-facilitators also praised cooperative efforts on irrigation water sharing.

The release states that during the meeting discussions focused on challenges faced by conflict-affected populations, including restrictions on freedom of movement and recent security incidents. The EUMM and OSCE expressed concern about continued detentions and called for the release of all detainees.

Additional issues discussed were ‘borderization’ activities and access to drinking water, impacting lives on both sides of the ABL. The EUMM-managed Hotline was emphasized as crucial for information exchange.

SSSG Statement

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) stated that the parties discussed all the important incidents observed in the occupied region and along the occupation line since the last meeting. “The representatives of the central government have once again demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all illegally detained persons”.

According to SSSG’s statement, the participants of the meeting also discussed the humanitarian problems of the local population living along the occupation line and the ways of solving them. They also talked about the current practice of movement through the so-called checkpoints and the problems related to the increase in their number.

The next regular IPRM meeting is scheduled for September 12, 2023.

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