The Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze held the meeting with the Head of EUMM Georgia Office, Marek Szczygieł to discuss the situation in the occupied regions.

The parties underlined the importance of the EUMM as the only international mission in Georgia.

They dwelt on the detention of Zaza Gakheladze and sentencing him with 12 years by the de-facto Court.

“This problem shall be raised at the highest level and we shall request from the de-facto authorities and Russian Federation the immediate release of this person”, - Samkharadze stated adding that Szczygieł pledged to render help. In the nearest future, upon contact with the de-facto and Russian authorities, the EUMM is to strive to raise this problem on the highest agenda.

The parties overviewed the grave humanitarian situation in the occupied regions. According to Nikoloz Samkharadze, the grave situation was further aggravated by the pandemic and the fact that the residents of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region are not allowed to enter the Georgian territory.

The parties stressed the role of the EUMM as an impartial observer providing the EU and the international society with objective information about the occupied regions.

“We also discussed the role of the mission to neutralize the threats deriving from Russia and protection from further aggression. We are glad that the mission has been extended by two years in 2020”, - added Samkharadze.