Members of the Defense and Security Committee were at the occupation line.

In the village of Odzisi, Dusheti municipality, where one can see the so-called Border Base (service) of the Russian Federal Security Service, MPs got cognizant of the situation on the ground. The Deputy Director of Information-Analytical Department under State Security Service provided the legislators with detailed information on the security situation in and around the occupation line, the closure of crossings, illegal detentions, and human rights violations.

As the Chairman of the Committee, Irakli Beraia, noted: “February 25 is one of the most grave days in the history of Georgia, marking the date when Bolshevik Russia occupied our country and Georgia lost its independence. However, the patriotism of the Georgian people, pursuit of freedom and the 70-year struggle for independence freed our country from the shackles of the Soviet regime.

Today, 100 years after the Soviet occupation, Georgia is still fighting the Russian occupation. Putin's Russian armed forces are illegally present on our land. Our compatriots, families, societies are separated and divided by the barbed wire and Russians - illegally detaining, harassing and killing our citizens, grossly violating their fundamental rights. Hundreds of thousands of people are deprived of the opportunity to return home with dignity and safety.

In this place, the gravity of the Russian occupation is particularly felt, as there seems to be an illegal so-called Border infrastructure, barbed wire, illicitly closed crossings. The Russian Federation bears full responsibility for violating the territorial integrity of Georgia, the sovereignty of other states and undermining the international order based on rules. All of this requires a unified, tough and consolidated approach from the international community.

Today, the aspiration of the Georgian people and the support of the free world for the unification of the country is stronger than ever. Nothing and nobody can stop the rebuilding of trust between our societies, the aspiration to live in a united, strong European state. Barbed wire and artificial barriers will inevitably collapse and the occupation will definitely be discontinued. Georgians, Abkhazians, Ossetians will all end the occupation and unite Georgia”.