On September 16, 2016, Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili met with independent human rights expert Thomas Hammarberg. The human rights situation in the occupied territories and the challenges existing along the dividing line were discussed at the meeting.

The Public Defender briefed the expert of the ban on teaching of the Georgian language in the Gali district and a special report on this topic. They also talked about regular meetings between representatives of Georgian and Abkhaz human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations held on the Public Defender's initiative and supported by the Council of Europe since 2014.

The Public Defender of Georgia paid special attention to the importance of timely investigation of the murder that took place in the village of Khurcha on May 19 and creation of mechanism for the prevention of similar incidents. Other important issues concerning protection of the rights of the conflict affected population were also reviewed at the meeting.

Thomas Hammarberg, by the instruction of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Herbert Salber, will assess the human rights situation in Abkhazia as an independent expert. The mission has humanitarian objectives and is being implemented within the framework of the EU's non-recognition and engagement policy.