Tea Akhvlediani: The intensive steps taken by the Russian Federation towards annexation are directed against reconciliation

One of the main, vital challenges of our country remains the ongoing occupation of two integral regions of Georgia, which results in a difficult legal and socio-economic situation of the local population, which has become even more complicated during the pandemic, said Tea Akhvlediani, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality.

As she explained, even during the pandemic, the so-called borderization has not stopped.

"Along with gross violations of fundamental human rights and ethnic discrimination, unprecedented restrictions on free movement have left the population in complete isolation and created a humanitarian crisis; In this regard, Akhalgori district is especially noteworthy. The so-called borderization and illegal detentions of people continue even during the pandemic, as a result of which, our citizens, including Irakli Bebua, Zaza Gakheladze and Genadi Bestaev remain in illegal detention. At the same time, the intensive steps taken by the Russian Federation towards annexation are also directed against reconciliation and extremely complicate our efforts to develop relations with the local population. The Georgian government, using all the levers at its disposal, continues to work actively together with international partners to prevent the illegal actions of the occupation regime.

It is noteworthy that the grave state of human rights, humanitarian and security situation in the occupied regions of Georgia, the intensification of the de facto annexation process by Russia and the illegal detention of Georgian citizens were raised at the last round of international talks in Geneva in December. As the Georgian government has repeatedly stated, one of the priorities of our peace policy, along with the efforts of non-recognition and full de-occupation of our country, is the implementation of a policy of human-centered reconciliation and engagement," said Tea Akhvlediani.