The 47th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by UN, with participation of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), was held in Gali on 28 June 2017.
The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere and the participants concurred that, since the last IPRM meeting on 31 May 2017, the security situation on the ground had been relatively stable without new major incidents. It was pointed out that constant efforts and cooperation of all participants is needed to prevent and handle incidents.
The investigation into the murder case of Mr. Otkhozoria in May 2016 was discussed at length. The EUMM underlined that impunity in such serious crimes could negatively impact security perceptions on the ground and thus undermine stability.
A case of two Georgian citizens detained close to the Administrative Boundary Line in April 2017 and still incarcerated was addressed. Updates on the case were given by participants. The EUMM urged for a swift release of the detained individuals.
Participants agreed that the Hotline mechanism, facilitated by the EUMM, remains a crucial confidence building instrument to prevent incidents and exchange information. Appeals were made to ensure even swifter response to information requests submitted through the Hotline.
The next IPRM meeting will take place in Gali on 26 July 2017.
