GARB Conducts Discussion on Human Rights and their Security Issues in Conflict Zone

On October 8 the residents of the conflict zone, as well as the representatives of the authorities, society and media convened at the premises of the non-governmental organization Kartlosi. The meeting was organized by the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GARB) which produces TV program Mravalkutkhedi (Polygonal) with the support of Open Society Georgia Foundation. The program regularly provides the coverage of the events ongoing in conflict zones. TV reports delivered from Sokhumi, Gali, Gagra and Tskhinvali regions cover the violations of rights of residents therein, in particular detentions, illegal imprisonment, physical abuse and the like.

The topic of the discussion included human rights in conflict zone and their security issues. What can NGOs or the representatives of the authorities and media do to help decrease the number of incidents in the villages adjacent to the occupied territories and make the residents feel safe. In the recent period several people have been detained for crossing the border in the vicinity of so called separation line. The situation further aggravated after drawing so called borders by Russian border guards. Consequently numerous houses and lands fell within the occupied territory. The representatives of local authorities conducted discussion over the issue. According to Kakha Toliashvili of Gori Municipality Gamgeoba the talks being on with the Russian party are fruitless and the Ossetian party is fully dependent on the will of the Russian party.šš

Gocha Nebieridze, State envoy to the Dvani village said the situation was further complicated due to stretching wires and setting up so called border signs since the paths to reach the lands were blocked to some of the Dvani dwellers. According to Nebieridze his co-villagers do still cultivate farms at their own risk.

Arina Tavakarashvili, interested in conflict issues believes that the information sharing between the parties should be constant and the representatives of Georgian and Ossetian parties should be providing consultation to one another over the issues of concern to help kickstart the process of restoring trust.

GARB’s Executive Director Natia Kuprashvli believes that media should be paying more attention to conflict zones. Unfortunately main TV channels provide almost no coverage of the events going therein. Raising public awareness, she said, is important in terms of their safety and media should contribute to the process.

GARB has already conducted a similar discussion on Georgian-Abkhazian relations in Batumi.