Julian Schweighart, Austria, Monitor in Zugdidi

Back in 2008, when I first heard in the news about an ongoing conflict in Georgia, the whole scenario seemed to be so far away. I had never visited the South Caucasus before, but now I find myself in Zugdidi at the heart of it. Last October, I joined the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) Team of Field Office Zugdidi...

Juho Romppainen, Finland

I am Juho Romppainen from Finland. I studied Contemporary History at the University of Turku and University of Helsinki. I completed a Master’s Programme of Russian and East European Studies at the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, with a special interest in the Caucasus and Central Asia...

Karin Eklund, Sweden

I arrived in Georgia and EUMM field office Gori in July 2018. When selected I was excited to be a part of this Mission and to contribute to stabilization, normalisation and confidence building in line with our mandate established after the war of 2008...

Alessandro Bartolini, Sweden

This is my first Mission with the EU, but not my first time working in Georgia. My background is in the humanitarian field. During 2004 - 2005, I was based in Tskhinvali with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Besides working in Georgia, I have worked in several countries in the Former Soviet Union, namely Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova...

Raitis Tiliks, Latvia

Nothing is impossible’. I have served for the EU in various deployments in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Western Balkans. My many and varied experiences have though me that we can make a difference. I am a Hotline Holder / Liaison Officer at the EUMM, and I truly believe that human values form the very basis in paving a way for peaceful conflict resolution. This too can take place in Georgia...

Sanne Overvelde-Slagman, The Netherlands

By now, I feel like I have settled in completely into Georgia. I enjoy my strolls from my traditional Georgian house during these crisp winter mornings to Field Office Zugdidi. The roosters great me enthusiastically, as well as the street dogs. Just before I turn the last corner, I see the local baker pulling piping hot traditional Georgian “shoti” bread from his tandoori-like oven...

Zuzana Brunnerova, Slovakia

Stabilisation, normalisation, confidence building and reporting – the four cornerstones of the EUMM mandate and, at the same time, the first four words which I remembered when receiving information about my upcoming deployment to Georgia. Honestly, it did not mean much to me in those early days. This was my first mission, and I was primarily focused on adapting to my new life. However, there is much more to those four key words of our mandate than meets they eye!