Following media reports earlier today stating that a new ‘Green Sign’ has been installed in the vicinity of Bershueti (Gduleti), the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) immediately dispatched a patrol to the area to establish a real time picture of the situation on the ground.
The EUMM can confirm that borderisation activities took place in the Gduleti area in June, but is not able to confirm the installation of new ‘Green Signs’ during the past week.
According to EUMM’s own observations in the area, several ‘Green Signs’ were installed in the vicinity of Bershueti (Gduleti) on 19 June 2017 very close to the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) on a position which is not under control of the Georgian government (Tbilisi Administered Territory).
Nonetheless, the EUMM considers the placement of ‘Green Signs’ unwarranted. Borderisation activities in any form, including placing of such signs, create obstacles to the freedom of movement and deprive farmers, who have been farming there for years, from cultivating their land.
This issue may be discussed at the next IPRM Meeting in Ergneti on 11 July 2017.
The EUMM will continue to monitor borderisation activities closely.