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Civil.ge
a day ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
64th Round of Geneva International Discussions
On June 25-26, the 64th round of Geneva International Discussions (GID) – a multilateral format to address security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war – was held in Geneva. The Georgian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister and Georgian Dream member Lasha Darsalia, stressed the need for the 'full implementation' of the EU-brokered 2008 ceasefire agreement by Russia, as well as the return of Georgia's internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes, the Georgian Foreign Ministry stated . The Ministry's statement added that the Georgian delegation emphasized the importance of resuming the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali 'without any preconditions' and ensuring the continued functioning of both the Gali and Ergneti IPRMs. The delegation raised the 'difficult' security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in the occupied regions and along the occupation lines, 'expressing concern over recent actions such as the illegal launch of the airport, in violation of fundamental principles and norms of international law, as well as the start of regular flights, railway traffic from Russia to Sokhumi, and the launch of an electric train service.' According to the Georgian MFA, representatives of Russia and the occupied regimes, 'as is their usual practice,' left the talks when the issue of returning internally displaced persons and refugees was raised. The press communiqué of the Co-Chairs said they welcomed the participants for their 'continued commitment to this important process,' emphasizing, amid increased tensions in the wider region, the need for the talks to 'make progress and deliver on its core agenda items for the benefit of all conflict-affected people.' On June 26, the participants reviewed security developments on the ground since the last round of discussions in March. 'They continued their discussions, with a particular focus on non-use of force and international security arrangements,' the communiqué says, adding that the Co-Chairs emphasized the importance of commitment to the principle of non-use of force and 'acknowledged the substantive exchanges of views on this agenda item.' In another working group, discussions focused on humanitarian issues, including crossings, documentation, livelihoods, missing persons, cultural heritage, and education. Participants also had additional exchanges on issues related to freedom of movement and external mobility. 'Due to a walkout by some participants, the agenda item 'internally displaced persons and refugees' could not be discussed,' the Co-Chairs note. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that for the key objective of the Discussions — 'to ensure lasting security for Abkhazia and South Ossetia' — the Russian side emphasized the importance of 'concrete steps,' noting that, in 'practical terms,' this should involve 'the provision by Tbilisi of guarantees on the non-use of force against Sokhumi and Tskhinvali, formalized through a legally binding agreement.' 'Further stabilization in the region could also be supported by confirmation — within the GID — of the 'reconciliation' statements made by the Georgian authorities regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and by putting those into practice.' The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the urgency of these measures stems from the 'ongoing risks of Tbilisi attempting to reestablish control over the former regions by military force, as well as Georgia's continued rapprochement with NATO,' citing the country's 'close cooperation' with the Alliance, including 'regular participation in NATO-led military training exercises.' Saying the participants noted 'relative calm' on the ground, supported by dialogue channels under the GID — including hotlines and the Ergneti IPRM — the Russian Ministry's statement added that security in the region could be further strengthened by resuming the Gali IPRM, and 'by initiating the delimitation of Georgia's borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, followed by their demarcation.' The Russian side further criticized Georgia's introduction of what it described as a 'highly politicized' resolution at the UN General Assembly on internally displaced persons, saying it hinders the GID's humanitarian track. 'Georgia's attempts to force parallel discussions of this issue at other international platforms outside the GID — where official representatives of Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are denied access and, consequently, the opportunity to present their principled positions — will continue to block consideration of related topics within the GID format,' the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The Russian Foreign Ministry further claimed that Switzerland has lost 'its declared neutral status,' citing its joining of sanctions against Moscow by the 'collective West,' and said it 'remains relevant' to relocate regular GID meetings from Geneva to a 'truly neutral and acceptable venue for all participants.' The statement from Abkhazia's de facto foreign ministry said its representatives 'once again emphasize the importance of intensifying efforts to conclude a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force' between Sokhumi and Tbilisi. It also echoed the Russian Foreign Ministry by saying the issue of IDPs' return 'cannot be the subject of dialogue' for both occupied regions, 'as long as its consideration in the UN General Assembly is carried out without taking into account the opinions of both parties.' The representatives from the occupied Tskhinvali region, alongside Russian representatives, 'once again called on the Georgian party to launch joint work on the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of the state border' between Tskhinvali and Tbilisi, urging formal negotiations on the issue. They also drew 'serious attention' to what they described as 'ongoing gross violations by Georgia of the rights of Ossetians — natives of the Kazbegi region (Tyrsygom) — who have been denied access to their ancestral lands by Georgian authorities for many years.' The representatives from the occupied regions jointly stated that 'resuming discussions on the refugee issue would only be possible if Georgia renounced the artificial politicization of the problem and stopped discussing it behind the backs of other states involved in resolving it.' The next round of Geneva International Discussions is scheduled for November 2025. Also Read:
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia sentences ex-President Saakashvili to additional 4.5 years over illegal border crossing
A court in Georgia has sentenced former President Mikheil Saakashvili to an additional four and a half years in prison on illegal border crossing charges, Georgian TV channel Mtavari reported on March 17. The ruling follows a prison sentence issued last week on state funds embezzlement charges, meaning that Saakashvili was ultimately sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison, the court ruled. The border crossing case concerns Saakashvili's secret return from Ukraine to Georgia on Sept. 29, 2021, despite being wanted by Georgian authorities. He was arrested on Oct. 1, 2021. Four others were charged in separate proceedings over Saakashvili's illegal entry and released on bail. Saakashvili, who served as Georgia's president from 2004-2007 and to 2008-2013, sought to align the country with the West but lost elections to the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party years after a defeat in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. A longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saakashvili has accused billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream, of orchestrating his prosecution on Moscow's orders. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled last May that there were no grounds to believe that Saakashvili's criminal proceedings were unfair. Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship and previously served as the governor of Odesa Oblast, has faced worsening health conditions during his custody. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February 2023 that the "Georgian government is killing" Saakashvili after images surfaced showing his significant weight loss. The ruling follows mass protests in Tbilisi over Georgia's disputed October elections, which saw the Kremlin-friendly Georgian Dream party retain power. The crisis deepened after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia's EU integration could be delayed until 2028. Read also: Russia open to civilian observers in Ukraine under possible peace deal We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia's ex-President Saakashvili sentenced to 9 more years in prison on embezzlement charges
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been sentenced to an additional nine years in prison for an alleged large-scale embezzlement of state funds, the Tbilisi City Court ruled, as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Georgian service reported on March 12. Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili found Saakashvili guilty of misappropriating 9 million lari (about $5.4 million at the time) from the state budget between May 2009 and February 2013 for personal expenses, including luxury hotels, cosmetic procedures, and designer clothing. Teimuraz Janashia, former head of the Special Guard Service, was also convicted in the case and fined 300,000 Georgian lari ($108,000) for abuse of office. Both men denied the charges, calling the trial politically motivated. Saakashvili, Georgia's president between 2004-2007 and 2008-2013, sought to take his country on a pro-Western path but lost elections to the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party a few years after the defeat in the Russia-Georgia war in 2008. The politician was detained upon returning to Georgia in 2021 and is currently serving six years in prison on charges of ordering the beating of opposition lawmaker Valery Gelashvili in 2005. He was also given a three-year sentence for abuse of power charges for pardoning four police officers convicted of murder in 2008. The former president, a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has accused oligrach Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, of orchestrating his prosecution on Moscow's orders. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on May 23 that there were no grounds to believe that Saakashvili's criminal proceedings were unfair. In February 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Georgian government was "killing" Saakashvili after photos surfaced showing his deteriorating health and significant weight loss. Saakashvili holds Ukrainian citizenship and served as the governor of Odesa Oblast between 2015 and 2016. The ruling follows mass protests in Tbilisi over the disputed October election results, which saw the Kremlin-friendly Georgian Dream party retain power. Since the election, a number of Western countries have imposed sanctions on Georgia over the perceived democratic backsliding. The political crisis deepened after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia's EU integration could be delayed until 2028. Read also: Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania's far-right still aim to win We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
