Archil Tatunashvili (RFL/RL)
An autopsy on the remains of Archil Tatunashvili, a Georgian citizen who died in South Ossetian custody in February, says that he suffered over 100 separate injuries before dying. South Ossetia claims that Tatunashvili, whose remains were transferred to Tbilisi almost three months ago, died after falling down a flight of stairs while trying to escape. [Read more…]
Graffiti on the art space building in old Tskhinval (Gana Yanovskaya /OC Media)
Enterprising young people in South Ossetia have lots of ideas for improving their homeland but the challenges are many. Few opportunities to develop a career at home, even fewer opportunities to travel abroad, a lack of cultural and recreational facilities, and a dearth of funding for youth initiatives mean the obstacles can seem insurmountable. Nevertheless, many are willing to try.
(Kan Taniya/Twitter)
A number of Western countries and international organisations have condemned the Syrian government's decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Syria made the announcement on Tuesday, becoming the fifth state to do so.
(Kan Taniya/Twitter)
Georgia has cut off diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic, after Syria recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. In a press briefing, Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua said that by recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent, ‘Assad’s regime supported the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Georgia, illegal occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and years long ethnic cleansing’. [Read more…]
Georgian–Russian border crossing in Zemo Larsi (wikimapia.org)
An agreement to create three trade corridors between Russia and Georgia, including through Abkhazia and South Ossetia, is to move forward, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. Karasin met with the Georgian PM’s Special Representative to Russia, Zurab Abashidze, on Thursday in Prague.
‘It was in November 1989. I was seven. I remember it was a gloomy day. The whole town was alert. I was little and could not understand anything. What I would hear was that some Georgians came shooting. And then everything started spinning: a blockade began, we would hear that they burnt a village and then another, kidnapped some people and shot some others. Barricades started popping in the town and cross-shootings followed.’
Tamar Mearakishvili (/OC Media)
A South Ossetian court has ruled that the local prosecutor’s office committed procedural violations when dismissing a complaint by journalist Tamara Mearakishvili. Mearakishvili told OC Media she had complained regarding the ‘inaction of the general prosecutor’s office’ while investigating her for slander. [Read more…]
Daur Kove, Abkhazia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (/Apsnypress)
Abkhazia has denounced Georgia’s recent ‘peace initiative’ to simplify trade and movement of people for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while the US, EU, and a number of other countries welcomed the initiative.
Sukhumi (Dominik K. Cagara/OC Media)
Georgian authorities have unveiled a wide ranging plan ‘to encourage contacts, movement, and relations’ with people in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The plan includes efforts to simplify trade, including from Abkhazia and South Ossetia to the EU, and encourage students from Abkhazia and South Ossetia to study in Georgian institutions and abroad. The initiative will also include changes to Georgia’s Law on Occupied Territories.
Palace of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland (www.mycityhighlight.com)
The latest round of the Geneva discussions have ended with mutual accusations. Despite hopes from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Russia, the parties failed to agree on a joint oral statement on the non-use of force.
