Georgians, Ossetians and Abkhazians living in the conflict zone are still suffering from the devastating consequences of the August war on the 12^th anniversary.

The cases of illegal violation of the right to life are especially alarming. Examples of the above were the violation of the right to life of Davit Basharuli in 2014, Giga Otkhozoria in 2016, Archil Tatunashvili in 2018 and Irakli Kvaratskhelia at the Russian military base in the village of Nabakevi in ​​the Gali district of occupied Abkhazia in 2019. It is noteworthy that representatives of the occupation regimes were directly involved in all the killings.

Freedom of movement is a serious problem. The deaths of persons living in the occupied territories due to inadequate medical care resulting from the arbitrary closure of the so-called checkpoint refer to the poor rights situation and humanitarian crisis in the territory of the occupied Akhalgori district.[1]

Over the years, one of the most problematic issues has been the detention and illegal deprivation of liberty of citizens on the occupation line, as well as beating, ill-treatment and torture of prisoners in temporary isolators and prisons.

12 years have passed since the 2008 war. Nevertheless, the occupation regime continues the illegal borderization.

Rehabilitation of or compensation for the houses damaged during the war in the villages located near the occupation line, as well as employment of the local population and finding a source of income for them, still remain problematic.

The quality of health care and education is deteriorating from year to year. Improper medical services and infrastructure, unsatisfactory level of qualifications of the medical personnel and high prices of services, as well as complicated movement of patients on the dividing line, have a negative impact on access to the highest standard of health care. Given these circumstances, the majority of population living in the occupied territories seek medical care outside the occupied territories.

Restrictions imposed on education in mother tongue in the Gali district in 2015 and in the Akhalgori municipality in 2017 led to the deterioration of the rights situation of ethnic Georgians, decline in their knowledge of the mother tongue and sharp decrease in the equality of ducation system in general.

The poor human rights situation is particularly alarming in light of the fact that international human rights organizations have no access to the occupied territories.

The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Georgian authorities to spare no effort to protect the dignity and rights of the conflict-affected population with the assistance and involvement of the international community and to change the attitudes between the opposing communities. Accordingly, the Public Defender welcomes any initiative of the Government of Georgia aimed at protecting the rights of the population living in the occupied territories and restoring trust between the conflict-affected population.

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[1] Death of 70-year-old Margo Martiashvili on October 28, 2019; 49-year-old Besik Obesov and 72-year-old Shota Driaev in November.