Commissioner for Human Rights of Council of Europe meets with Reconciliation and Interior Ministers of Georgia

Dunja Mijatović, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, resumed her visit to Georgia, meeting with Tea Akhvlediani, the Minister of Reconciliation, Vakhtang Gomelauri, and Vice Speaker Archil Talakvadze.

Commissioner Mijatović and Minister Akhvlediani discussed the security issues, human rights, and humanitarian circumstances in Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region, according to the Reconciliation Ministry.

Minister Akhvlediani remarked after the meeting that she was particularly concerned about ethnic prejudice in the occupied Gali and Akhalgori districts, respectively, Georgian-majority communities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The Minister of Reconciliation also complained about Russian occupying troops' arbitrary detentions of Georgian nationals and limitations on their freedom of movement, which she claims have "claimed the lives and health of numerous Georgian individuals."

Commissioner Mijatovi and Minister Gomelauri reviewed the Interior Ministry's human rights policy, including efforts to combat crimes perpetrated on the basis of prejudice, on February 23.

According to a news statement from the Georgian Parliament, the Commissioner's discussion with Vice Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze on February 23 focused on the situation in the occupied territories as well as the Georgian Parliament's human rights reforms.

MP Talakvadze said he informed the official on Georgia's labour reforms, environmental protection, and efforts to eliminate discrimination and violence against women.

Garibashvili claims that the 2008 war was not inevitable

PM Irakli Garibashvili used the anniversary of the Day of Soviet Occupation in 1921 to condemn the former UNM administration and ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili for their handling of events building up to the August 2008 Russo-Georgian War.

Garibashvili said the United National Movement now wants to "create provocations and repeat the tragedy they couldn't prevent with the August 2008 conflict" in his statements, which came amid opposition criticism of the Georgian Dream government's cautious stance on Russia's war against Ukraine.

"She once again recounted the events of August (2008), claiming they were aware of Russia's plot to invade Georgia, that implies they notified the Georgian authorities about it," the Prime Minister said, citing a recent CNN interview with Condoleezza Rice, ex-Secretary of State.

"Failing to compute the most fundamental thing and responding to provocation in a foolish, uneducated, anti-state manner, of course, treason," the Prime Minister stated.

"Even previous US Ambassadors, State Department's Dan Fried, and former Ambassador (Richard Monroe) Miles, were suggesting that the August War was not unavoidable. This is my opinion."

The NATO Secretary-General discusses increasing support for Georgia

Following special virtual meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "The Kremlin is attempting to make NATO and the EU provide less assistance for our allies."

"Our collective response must be stronger assistance for nations like Georgia, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina," the NATO leader stated.

"To assist them in achieving democratic changes and pursuing paths that they choose freely," Stoltenberg stated.

Moreover, recently, Polish President Andrzej Duda recommended that NATO arrange discussions with the leaders of Georgia and Ukraine during the Alliance's Madrid Summit in June 2022.

President Duda made the declaration after meeting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, emphasising that conversations with Presidents Salome Zourabichvili and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will show support to the two nations and that NATO is not abandoning them.

"They have always been committed allies of NATO, and the Alliance remembers them in this regard," the Polish President said, adding that it was one of the most pressing concerns "especially for the Alliance's reputation."

In December 2021, the Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned Moscow's demand that NATO revokes the 2008 Bucharest Summit agreement, which said that Georgia and Ukraine will ultimately join the alliance, as unacceptable.

The Russian Foreign Ministry (MID) stated, "in the basic interests of European security, it is important to openly repudiate the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit resolution that Ukraine and Georgia would become NATO members."

Moscow's demands were spelt out in a long MID statement, which stated that NATO partners' agreement at the 2008 Bucharest Summit to not increase security at the expense of other governments, including Russia, violated their commitment to the OSCE.

Josep Borrell concerned about Russian influence in Georgia

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has raised concern over the possibility of Russian influence being activated in Georgia and Moldova in the wake of Moscow's armed attack on Ukraine.

"We're concerned about what may happen in the area as a whole." Following an unusual meeting of EU Foreign Ministers late on February 27, the senior European diplomat stated, "we are scared that Russia will not stop in Ukraine."

"And Russian influence can begin to act in adjacent countries like Moldova and Georgia," the EU foreign policy leader added, adding that he plans to visit Moldova.

The European Union, according to the High Representative, must be cautious about the crisis' impact on the Western Balkans.

Earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that if Russia suspends gas supplies to Europe, EU countries will hold talks with Azerbaijan on gas supplies.

Georgian Defence Minister under Shevardnadze becomes Presidential Adviser

David Tevzadze, who headed the Ministry of Defence of Georgia during Eduard Shevardnadze's presidency, has been appointed chief adviser to the head of state on strategic planning.

"Yes, I confirm that he (Tevzadze) has been appointed chief adviser to the President of Georgia on strategic planning. He has already taken up his duties," the press officer said.

Tevzadze was born in January 1949, graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In 1992 he joined the reserve battalion "Orbi" of the National Guard of Georgia. In 1998, Tevzadze was appointed Minister of Defence of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He held this post until 2004.