Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) has denounced the decision by the de-facto Abkhazian authorities to stop persecution of Rashid Kanji-Oghli. Kanji-Oghli is the Abkhaz citizen and former border guard who gunned down a Georgian citizen, Giga Otkhozoria on May 19, 2016.

The representatives of the Abkhazian government informed the representatives of the State Security Service of Georgia of the decision at the 46th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by United Nations with participation of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), which took place in Gali on May 31, 2017.

“This decision is extremely negative and cynical and Georgia will press this issue not only at Gali IPRM meetings, but at higher international meetings as well,” the SSS stated.

Kanji-Oghli, 30, killed Otkhozoria, 31, on Georgian-controlled territory near the administrative boundary line with Abkhazia. The Georgian man was shot six times, including once in the head. He was rushed to hospital but died soon after. He left behind a wife and two children.

The EUMM reports that besides the issue of Otkhozoria, the parties discussed the recent cases of detentions at the administrative boundary line and ongoing borderization which, in some cases, prevents access to agricultural land for the locals. The closure of two controlled crossing points this March and the closure's impact on local residents was also discussed.

The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism was created in February 2009 as a result of the Geneva discussions that followed the 2008 conflict in Georgia. The meetings are an opportunity to identify potential risks and problems facing the local community, follow up on incidents, and exchange information.

Georgian representatives at the IPRM meetings are from the State Security Service and the Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ministry of Georgia.

The next meeting of the Gali IPRM is scheduled for June 28, 2017.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: accent.com.ge

01 June 2017 11:31