Commissioner for Human Rights

[17/11/08 14:50] Commissioner Hammarberg concluded on Friday 14 November his special visit to the areas affected by the South Ossetia conflict. He followed up the implementation of the six principles for human rights and humanitarian protection of the victims of the conflict and gave new impetus to exchanges of detainees as well as to the efforts to clarify the fate of missing persons.

The Commissioner secured the release by Georgian authorities of one adolescent Ossetian and his father, who were arrested on 8 October in the previous "buffer zone", and brought them to Tskhinvali on 12 November. He also ensured the return of ten corpses from Tskhinvali to Tbilisi. "This is an important step undertaken to help clarify what happened to Georgian soldiers reported as missing in action" he said.

Commissioner Hammarberg also met with His Holiness Ilia II, the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, to discuss the need for further humanitarian and human rights work to ensure that persons who are deprived of their liberty are released, and if appropriate, exchanged. "We agreed on the crucial importance to further these efforts and the need for continued assistance to clarify the fate of missing persons following the conflict" said the Commissioner. "We also discussed some concrete cases and agreed to join efforts for the release of detained persons or corpses".

During the mission, the Commissioner visited Tskhinvali, where he met de facto President Kokoity and de facto Ombudsman, David Sanakoev. He also travelled to Gori and the previous "buffer zone", where he met with returnees and listened to their grievances and concerns. In Tbilisi, he visited a collective centre and talked with displaced persons about their situation.

"I am concerned over the insufficient humanitarian aid provided to returnees and to the persons who are still displaced" he said. "I am particularly worried about the lack of livelihood and income-generating projects, which would allow these already victimised persons to pass the winter in acceptable living conditions and prevent a new wave of displacement among the returnees".

In addition, the Commissioner had meetings with the Minister for Reintegration, Temuri Yakobashvili, the first Deputy Foreign Ministry, Giorgi Bokeria, representatives of international organisations and international observer missions as well as non-governmental organisations and the diplomatic community. He also met with the Georgian Public Defender, Sozar Subari, and the Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the Parliament, Givi Targamadze, in relation to securing exchanges.

A report from the visit will be issued by the end of November.