The Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Member of the OSCE PA Delegation, Maka Botchorishvili participated in the OSCE PA Webinar “Humanitarian protection and human rights in conflict zones”.

In her speech, M. Bochorishvili dwelt on the challenges in the OSCE region in terms of peace and protection of human rights in conflict zones and underlined the importance of peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region.

In addition, the Chair of the Committee paid special attention to the Russian occupation of the historical regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, as well as the grave human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground.

"The Russian Federation continues to occupy the regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, thus violating the norms of international law”, - M. Botchorishvili stated highlighting the facts of gross human rights violations in the occupied territories.

Speaking about Russia's provocative actions, Georgian MP mentioned the methods of hybrid warfare, disinformation and cyber-attacks, which are deliberately used to destabilize the country, even during the pandemic.

As for the deteriorated humanitarian situation and the neglection of human rights, M. Botchorishvili paid special attention to the illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the Russian occupation regime in Tskhinvali and the decision on his 12-year imprisonment.

The Chair of the Committee stressed the importance of effective steps by the international community to ensure the immediate release of Zaza Gakheladze and other illegally detained Georgian citizens.

According to M. Bochorishvili, as ruled by the ECHR on January 21, 2021, Russia, as an effective control force, is responsible for disregarding international humanitarian law and human rights.

As M. Botchorishvili stated, that consolidation of the international community is necessary for the Russian Federation to stop illegal actions and to ensure the access of international security mechanisms, including unimpeded access for the EUMM to the occupied territories of Georgia.

According to her, the OSCE has great potential to play an effective role in the peaceful settlement of the conflict and the process of unhindered access of international humanitarian and human rights organizations to the occupied regions.