126th Ergneti IPRM Meeting
The meeting was co-facilitated by Bettina Patricia Boughani, head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, and Christoph Späti, special representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.
Georgia's State Security Service (SSSG)
said
it discussed 'all important incidents' along the occupation line since the previous IPRM meeting.
The agency said its representatives reiterated their 'strong demand' for accountability in the November 2023 killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi, who was fatally
shot
by Russian forces during an attempted illegal arrest near the village of Kirbali in the Gori municipality.
The agency also said it raised the issue of releasing all individuals held in illegal detention and condemned the continued 'illegal so-called borderization' near the occupation line. It said humanitarian concerns affecting the local population were discussed, with 'special attention paid to the issue of free movement.'
The co-facilitators
welcomed
the 'continued commitment' of all participants to the IPRM format, emphasizing its 'crucial role' in 'addressing security-related developments and finding practical solutions for conflict-affected communities on both sides of the administrative boundary line.'
'The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators reiterated their concern over the continuous practice of detentions,' a joint statement said. 'They also advocated for enhanced freedom of movement, which would facilitate family visits during the summer.'
The discussion also addressed irrigation and wastewater management, with co-facilitators urging 'practical cooperation to ensure sufficient access of the local population on both sides of the ABL to water resources during the dry season.' Both organizations reiterated their readiness to support efforts in this area.
The official press release noted that participants acknowledged the EUMM-managed hotline as 'a highly effective tool for establishing a shared understanding of security and humanitarian developments.'
Igor Kochiev, the de facto representative of the Russian-backed Tskhinvali region,
told
journalists following the meeting that the situation along the boundary remains 'stable, calm and predictable.'
'Since the previous meeting, a minimal number of violations of the state border and violations of the republic's airspace by unmanned aerial vehicles have been recorded,' he said.
Representatives of the de facto authorities in the occupied Tskhinvali region once again
raised
the issue of a Georgian police post in the village of Tsnelisi/Uista. Kochiev said, 'The problem is constantly voiced, and the South Ossetian side has proposed withdrawing this post from the territory of the republic.'
He added that the removal of the post is the 'only possible solution, including to make life easier for residents living on the right bank of the Lopan River.'
The next meeting within the framework of the IPRM will be held on 29 September 2025
.
Also Read:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
OC Media
a day ago
- OC Media
Ingushetia bans filming of drone strikes and their aftermath
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member New restrictions have come into force in Ingushetia, banning the filming and distribution of images and videos showing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the consequences of their crashes. The decree was signed by Ingush Head Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov on 11 July, though its contents were only made public on Wednesday. According to the decree, it is now forbidden to record or publish in any form any images or videos of drone strikes, their aftermath, or military infrastructure. The ban also covers the publication of information related to communication systems, energy infrastructure, industrial and utility sites, bridges, and other critical facilities. If the site of a drone crash or landing is discovered, it is prohibited to approach the object, to use mobile phones nearby due to the risk of detonation, or to post anything on social media. Violations of the decree may result in administrative penalties. 'The data you distribute may be used for extremist purposes', the official announcement warned residents. Citizens of Ingushetia are also being encouraged to report individuals who take photos or videos of drones or the consequences of their use to law enforcement authorities. On the morning of 26 July, a UAV fell onto a private home in the village of Nizhniye Achaluki, in Ingushetia's Malgobek district. Four people were injured, including three children. The Ingush Health Ministry reported that all victims were taken to hospital and were in stable condition. Later, the Russian Ministry of Defence stated that air defence systems had shot down a drone over Ingushetia. Photos and videos of the aftermath were circulated online. This was the first incident of its kind in Ingushetia since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over three years ago. Advertisement On the night of 31 July–1 August, several regions in the North Caucasus also issued UAV threat alerts, including Daghestan, Kabarda-Balkaria, and North Ossetia. In North Ossetia, the drone threat alert was accompanied by reduced mobile internet speeds. The region's head, Sergei Menyailo, stated that the slowdown was due to security measures. An official update from the Unified State System for Emergency Prevention and Response in Daghestan also warned of possible internet disruptions. In the final weeks of July, similar reports of drone attack threats appeared almost nightly, though actual attacks rarely occurred. According to a report from the Russian Ministry of Defence, 32 Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed or intercepted across Russian regions during the night of 31 July–1 August. No air defence systems were reportedly activated in the North Caucasus Federal District.
OC Media
2 days ago
- OC Media
Three members of Shamil Basaev's armed group from Kabarda–Balkaria sentenced to lengthy prison terms
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member A military court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced three residents of Kabarda–Balkaria to prison for participating in an attack on Russian paratroopers in Chechnya under Shamil Basaev's command 25 years ago. The Southern District Military Court has sentenced Aslanbek Kazanchev and Anzor Batyrov to 17 and 14 years in prison respectively for participating in a criminal gang, armed rebellion and attempting to kill military personnel. A third defendant, Taymuraz Nakusov, was also convicted, but had entered a pre-trial cooperation agreement and testified against Kazanchev and Batyrov. The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed the sentencing of Kazanchev and Batyrov, while the verdict for Nakusov is published on the court's official website. Both Kazanchev and Batyrov denied the charges. Their verdicts have not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed. According to case materials, Kazanchev and Batyrov joined an armed group formed in the 1990s in Chechnya under the leadership of rebel commanders Basaev and Ibn al-Khattab. The prosecution stated that in 1999 they arrived in the Shali district of the republic and became members of one of the militant units. On 29 February 2000, troops from the 76th Guards Airborne Division based in Pskov detected the movement of an armed group near the village of Ulus-Kert in Chechnya's Shatoysky District. That same day, a group of at least 2,000 militants was reportedly formed to confront the Russian forces, with Kazanchev and Batyrov among them. The battle lasted until 06:00. on 1 March. According to the case file, of the 90 paratroopers involved in the clash, 84 were killed and four sustained injuries. According to Russian media outlet Kommersant, in court, both defendants denied involvement in the fighting or being members of an armed group. Batyrov, 44, from Kabarda–Balkaria, told the court that he was living and working as a loader in Nalchik between 1999 and 2000 and had not left the city. Advertisement Kazanchev, 53, also from Kabarda–Balkaria, claimed he had travelled to Chechnya in 1999 to receive religious education and military training. He said he trained with firearms at a camp in Urus-Martan under Basaev and Khattab, whom he viewed at the time as 'defenders of the fatherland'. In December 1999, after Russian air strikes targeted the camp, Kazanchev said he left and relocated to other villages. He claimed that on 29 February 2000, he was three to four kilometres from the site of the battle, and had a weapon but never used it against Russian forces. According to his account, he changed into civilian clothes in March 2000, surrendered his weapon, and left Chechnya. He was later detained in Daghestan and sentenced for participating in an illegal armed formation. Kazanchev argued that his renewed prosecution was excessive, as he had already served a sentence for similar charges. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of Nakusov, a former member of the group who entered into a cooperation agreement with investigators. He testified that Kazanchev and Batyrov were members of the so-called 'Kabardian Jamaat' under Basaev and Khattab. All three were reportedly detained on the same day in May 2023. Although Nakusov admitted to taking part in the battle against the Pskov paratroopers, he said he could not recall whether Batyrov and Kazanchev had been present. Three other classified witnesses, identified as former members of the armed group, also testified that Kazanchev and Batyrov had been part of the same unit. Despite cooperating with investigators, admitting guilt, and citing his five children and a wife on maternity leave, Nakusov was sentenced to 11 and a half years in a high-security prison, according to the court's ruling. He has already appealed the decision to the Military Court of Appeal, which upheld the verdict, stating that all mitigating circumstances had been considered. Batyrov had a previous conviction — in 2006, he was sentenced to two and a half years in a penal settlement for participating in an illegal armed group. He has three underage children. Under Russian law, having underage children allows for a more lenient sentence. Aslanbek Kazanchev was previously convicted in 2000 and sentenced to five years for membership in an armed group and illegal possession of weapons. In 2022, he was sentenced to six months of correctional labour for failing to pay child support. He also has three children and lives in Baksan. According to Russian security agencies, more than 2,000 militants participated in the battle against the Pskov paratroopers. The exact number of people prosecuted in connection with this event is unknown. However, media reports suggest that at least 40 individuals have faced charges. Some remain on the federal wanted list, while others were detained in recent years across various North Caucasus republics and have already been sentenced.
OC Media
2 days ago
- OC Media
Georgia detains UNM political council member for ‘deceiving a foreign national'
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) has announced the detention of a political council member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party. Lasha Tsanava was accused of deceiving a foreign national seeking to obtain residence, an allegation his party considered a 'provocation'. According to a statement released Wednesday by Georgia's State Security Service (SSG), Tsanava promised a foreign national that, 'through his connections', he could secure a one-year Georgian residence permit in exchange for $5,600. The agency stated that the foreign citizen transferred part of the requested amount to the UNM political council member in May of this year, and in June, following Tsanava's 'persistent requests', gave him another $2,500. In total, the SSG claimed Tsanava 'fraudulently obtained' $2,650 out of the $5,600 he had requested. The agency also released video and audio recordings it said serve as evidence of the alleged crime. In the video, an individual whose face was blurred can be seen speaking through an interpreter to another person, discussing payments for obtaining residency and warning that anyone without the proper documentation could face deportation from the country. The footage also showed documents and money being exchanged between two individuals, both with obscured faces. The audio recording allegedly captured a phone conversation between two people discussing the need to pay for document processing. Advertisement The investigation started under fraud charges, which carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The SSG's statement was addressed the same day by UNM political council chair Levan Khabeishvili, who called the detention a staged 'provocation' against Tsanava. Khabeishvili described the Tsanava as a 'decent, hard-working man' who worked tirelessly to support his family and had occasional contact with foreign nationals. 'If he offered [a foreigner] help with sorting out their documents, how is that a crime? Hundreds of people stand outside the Public Service Hall offering the same kind of assistance', Khabeishvili wrote on Facebook. 'But Lasha was targeted by a SSG agent-provocateur and was secretly filmed', he added. Khabeishvili further stated that Tsanava is his friend and that he has no intention of 'hiding from his name'. Tsanava had previously drawn the attention of investigators last year, when Khabeishvili was the UNM's chair and Tsanava served as his assistant. At the time, the Chief Prosecutor's Office summoned him for questioning over the violent dispersal of a group of activists near Tbilisi's police headquarters in 2009, during UNM's time in power. According to the prosecution, Tsanava was employed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the time and took part in the crackdown. That case was being investigated under charges of abuse of power involving violence. Tsanava was not detained at the time.
