President awards EUMM head

President Giorgi Margvelashvili has awarded the head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, Kestutis Jankauskas, with the Order of Honour. The EUMM is the only monitoring mission operating in Georgia working along the occupation line in the wake of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.

Jankauskas, a Lithuanian diplomat who has been head of the mission since 2014, ended his mandate in Georgia this year.

Margelashvili hosted him at his presidential palace in Avlabari and thanked him for his work.

Margvelashvili said that with Jankauskas as its head, the EUMM has been very effective in Georgia.

While accepting the award, Mr. Jankauskas stated that this is an extraordinary honour for him and he accepted the award as recognition of the input of every Mission member, as well as of the European Union’s contribution to security and stability in Georgia and the wider region.

EUMM Georgia is an unarmed civilian monitoring mission tasked with ensuring peace and stability for people who live on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Since its establishment in October 2008, the organisation has supported the stabilisation and normalisation of the situation at ground-level following the EU-mandated six-point agreement between Georgia and Russia after the August 2008 war.

The EUMM’s role in Georgia is unique, and the organization does its utmost to support Georgia in a situation wherein Russia occupies 20 percent of Georgia’s land and continues its creeping occupation.

Showing respect to the people who contribute for the Georgian people’s peace and security was an honourable display by President Margvelashvili.