Amnesty International: Post-conflict boundary in Georgia leaves thousands in limbo
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, July 4
Russia’s and the de facto authorities’ attempts to physically demarcate a boundary between Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the rest of Georgia have led to severe restrictions on freedom of movement and other human rights violations, with families separated by barbed wire, cut off their livelihoods and at risk of arbitrary detention if they try to cross, Amnesty International says in a new report released on Wednesday.
As of late 2018, 34 villages had been divided by fences, separating residents not only from each other but also from their farms, pasturelands, irrigation sources or village cemeteries.
An estimated 800 to 1,000 families in total have lost all or partial access to agricultural land and woodlands near the South Ossetian/Tskhinvali Region Administrative Boundary Line (ABL).
The report has revealed that “the devastating impact” of efforts by Russian forces and the de facto authorities to set up an “international border” along the disputed boundary by installing barbed wire fences, ditches and other physical barriers have divided communities and cut villagers off from farmland, water sources, places of worship and even family burial sites.
“Lives are being strangled by these arbitrary measures. Hundreds of people face arbitrary detention every year trying to cross the line for no other reason than to see relatives, tend to their crops or access healthcare. Whole communities are being cut off from vital sources of income and other important aspects of their lives — punished solely because of where they happen to live,” said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The report says that erecting the illegal fences has resulted in the closure of several official crossing points between Tskhinvali and Abkhazia.
“The erection of the barbed wire fences has had a detrimental impact on what was once active cross-boundary trade. It has seriously eroded the social and economic situation in communities straddling the divide, as local producers have lost access to the nearest markets,” Struthers said.
Amnesty International called on Georgia to provide “relevant support” to the families whose economic, social and cultural rights have been negatively impacted because of the “borderisation,” including those who have lost access to their livelihoods.
The report called upon the Russian government to fully respect its obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law.
Other recommendations urge Russia to:
Reopen the closed crossing points over the Abkhazian Administrative Boundary Line and ensure operation of crossing points across the South Ossetian/Tskhinvali Region ABL.
Respect and protect the rights of those seeking to cross the ABL in South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia, in particular, cease arbitrary detention of civilians crossing the ABL, and protect anyone deprived of their liberty from torture and other ill-treatment.
Lift arbitrarily restrictions on cross-ABL travel that adversely affect the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by the local population on either side of the ABL; Ensure that residents who, as a result of “borderisation,” have lost access to agricultural land that they own or legitimately use are able to regain free access.
Abstain from any further actions which may result in the loss of agricultural lands and/or access to them for the local civilians who depend on them for their livelihood; Respect the right to family life, refrain from actions that violate it, including arbitrary restrictions to family visits across the ABL.
Respect the right to freedom of religion and the right to take part in cultural life, and refrain from actions that violate it, including arbitrary restrictions about cross-ABL visits to religious sites and graveyards.
Fully cooperate with all international human rights and international humanitarian law monitoring initiatives- allow and facilitate full and unimpeded access to international monitors in the territories under your control, and in particular: allow and facilitate access for and work in the areas under your control by the currently existing EU Monitoring Mission.
Allow Amnesty International upon the international community, including the UN, EU, CoE and the OSCE to explore every available opportunity for effective monitoring of the human rights situation on the South Ossetian/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazian sides of the occupation line, including contributing their expertise and other available resources to facilitate international monitoring of human rights.
Russia recognised Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
