Prepared by Messenger Staff
IPRM Meeting in Ergneti Focuses on Detentions and Borderization
The 129th round of talks under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism was held on December 22 in Ergneti, near the dividing line with Georgia's Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region. The meeting brought together Georgian officials, representatives of the de facto authorities, and international mediators from the EU and the OSCE.
Georgia's State Security Service said discussions covered recent incidents along the occupation line, including detentions and movement restrictions. According to the agency, its representatives once again raised the issue of accountability for the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi and demanded the release of people held in what it described as illegal detention.
"All significant incidents that occurred since the previous meeting were discussed," the State Security Service said, adding that particular attention was paid to cases of detention, restrictions on freedom of movement, and ongoing borderization.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Irakli Antadze, deputy head of the SSSG analytical department, said that 11 people had been detained since the last meeting and that two new cases of borderization had been recorded. He noted that the incidents occurred near Kvemo Khviti in Gori Municipality and the occupied village of Artsevi.
EU and OSCE co-facilitators said the participants reaffirmed the importance of continuing the IPRM format for addressing security and humanitarian concerns. In a joint statement, they said the meeting addressed restrictions on movement, energy infrastructure safety, and the resolution of detention cases.
"The continued practice of detentions negatively impacts the sense of security of the local population," the co-facilitators said, calling for a humanitarian approach and faster resolutions. They also supported extending the temporary opening of crossing points into January to allow families to reunite during the holiday period.
Representatives of the de facto authorities also commented after the meeting. Igor Kochiev said the format helps maintain stability, stating that "urgent and sensitive issues are raised promptly, and concrete decisions are made."
The next IPRM meeting is scheduled for February 4, 2026.
Court Sets Bail for Zurab Girchi Japaridze in Sabotage Case
A Tbilisi court has ordered opposition politician Zurab Girchi Japaridze to post GEL 30,000 in bail in an ongoing criminal case involving charges of sabotage, days after his release from prison on a separate conviction.
Judge Teona Epitashvili approved the prosecution's request, giving Japaridze 30 days to pay the bail. The court also seized his passport and identification documents and barred him from leaving the country without prosecutorial approval.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Japaridze said he had not yet decided whether he would comply with the bail order. "It's not only about me. What I decide now may affect what other politicians will have to do later, so I need time to think," he said.
Japaridze was released from prison on December 19 after serving seven months for refusing to cooperate with a parliamentary commission established by the ruling Georgian Dream party. He now faces a separate case accusing him of sabotage and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities, charges that carry a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted.
Several other opposition figures have previously refused to post bail in similar cases and were held in pre-trial detention.
