The erection of fences in the vicinity of the village of Gugutiantkari by the de facto authorities of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region, backed by Russian border guards, hinders freedom of movement and will deprive people from the local area from accessing orchards and water resources, a European Union delegation to Georgia has said.
“It is crucial that this work is stopped and that all relevant actors make active use of the existing mechanisms for communication,” the European Union’s External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement.
“The European Union remains engaged and involved in stabilisation and conflict resolution efforts in Georgia, including by continuing its engagements as co-chair in the Geneva discussions, the efforts of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia (EUSR), and the continued presence on the ground of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM),” the statement continued.
The European Union also renewed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
Russia has illegally occupied Tskhinvali and another Georgian region, Abkhazia, since the two countries fought a short war in 2008. In July, Russia introduced a ban on all flights to and from Georgia in response to protests in Tbilisi against its occupation of the two regions.
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