Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the installation of barbed wire on the border line of the separatist regions of the country by Russian troops.

Russian border guards began demarcation work in several Georgian villages in the borderline area of Shida Kartli region, Georgian sources reported on May 27. In particular, the so-called border with South Ossetia moved 300 meters deep into the village of Ditsi.

Border pillars are being installed now, and barbed wire is planned to be installed. Local population is afraid that their land parcels and cemetery will end up on the other side of the 'border'.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry`s statement said on May 28 that similar actions of Russian troops "represent violation of fundamental principles of international law as well as the violation of internationally recognized borders of Georgia and gross violation of the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008."

Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia after their August 2008 war over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia lost one-fifth of its territory after the two republics broke away. Tbilisi announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry urged the Russian Federation to stop what it labeled as creating prohibitive barriers on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia through the establishment of barbed wire, to fulfill all the clauses of the 2008 agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia's breakaway regions.

"Georgia intends to convey information about the situation to its international partners and the international community so that they adequately respond to the illegal actions," the statement said.

Furthermore, the Georgian Foreign Ministry through the Swiss Embassy will send a protest note to Russia over the unauthorized transfer of the administrative border of Tskhinvali region.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on May 27 that installing fences by the Russian troops was "completely illegal" and that its representative would raise the issue during an upcoming Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting in Ergneti on May 31.

Furthermore, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) said on May 27 that it had been facilitating an exchange of information through a telephone hotline about the installation of new fences in the vicinity of Ditsi, civil.ge website reported.

"As freedom of movement is one of EUMM's key priorities, a patrol has immediately been sent to the site in order to verify and monitor developments on the ground. The issue is likely to be discussed at the next Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting in Ergneti on May 31," EUMM said.