Statement by Office of Georgian State Minister for Reintegration on Attack against Temur Tskhovrebov

On 24 at 13:00 pm three members of the so called parliament of South Ossetia/ Tskhinvali region in association with a group of people attacked and unmercifully beat Temur Tskhovrebov, editor, Tskhinvali-based newspaper the 21st Century.

Reason: Temur Tskhovrebov's participation in the Georgian-Ossetian civil forum held on July 11-17 in Leiden (the Netherlands) and a joint appeal to the Geneva talks' participants on addressing security and humanitarian problems the population faces in the breakaway territory. The Georgian government is extremely concerned about negligence in the occupied territory of South Ossetia/ Tskhinvali region, in particular human rights violations, persecution for dissention, threats, impudence of offenders, no life security guarantees.

The Georgian authorities condemn any type of violence and demand more efforts and activity by international organizations and institutions to make the international society aware of the actual situation in the occupied territory.

The Georgian government hopes the civil society in South Ossetia/ Tskhinvali region will resist such negligence, persecution of free opinion, and severe human rights violations.

Therefore the Georgian authorities worked out a state strategy and an action plan which aims at creating the environment conducive to intense relations, collaboration, partnership of the people separated with dividing lines and restoration of trust between the residents of Georgia.

The government of Georgia believes the successful implementation of these events will be conducive to the reconciliation of the society and reinforcement of reliance.