Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association voices its position about expansion of occupation line by Russian Federation on the territory controlled by Georgia. According to the information released by media, on July 11, 2015 Russian troops pushed on the occupation line by 300 meters in village Orchosani Gori region, and by half and a kilometer in Tsitelubani-Khurvaleti area. Part of Baku-Supsa pipeline was also left behind the territory controlled by Georgia.
Construction of barbed wire fences and trenches by Russian and Osetian border guards on the territory controlled by Georgia, has been carried out periodically since 2008 with a view to demark the area. Since 2013 the process became more active and Georgian citizens living in the villages near the conflict zone lost access to their agricultural lands and houses, were deprived of the right to free movement and access to religious buildings and grave yards. Totally, installed barbed wire fences affected up to 25 villages.
It should be noted that information provided by state agencies to GYLA about the number of people affected after construction of wire fences and the scope of occupied area, is inconsistent. As far as we are informed, there is no database with relevant processed material.
After installation of barbed wire fences right of Georgian citizens to property, housing and freedom of movement has been violated. If the occupation area is expended, households of hundreds of Georgian citizens will be jeopardized.
By means of ECtHR and the UN Human Rights Committee, GYLA attempts to terminate illegal construction of the boarder by Russian troops and to provide compensation to Georgian population suffered through illegal conduct of the occupant. In April 2014, GYLA applied to ECtHR on behalf of 19 individuals affected as a results illegal installation of wire fences in the village Dvani and in February 2015, at the hearing of Russian Federation in UN Human Rights Committee, it submitted an alternative report. Although Human Rights Committee considered number of GYLA’s recommendations, it did not call on the Russian Federation to put an end to illegal redrawing of the boarder.
GYLA calls on the government to establish a unified database of individuals affected after redrawing a section of the occupation boarder with a view to calculate their material damage after the loss of agricultural lands and houses. In addition, GYLA appeals the government of Georgia to use all available diplomatic and international legal mechanisms for putting an end to Russian occupation in Georgia and to prevent violation of the rights of Georgian citizens
