Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani spoke of the security and humanitarian situation in the two Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region at the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava.

“It has been 11 years that we have been dealing with the consequences of Russia"s full-scale military aggression against Georgia. The state of security and human rights in the occupied regions of Georgia and adjacent areas is dramatically worsening. Instead of withdrawing its military forces from the occupied regions in line with its commitments to the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 2008, the occupying power continues intensive militarization, further destabilizing the situation on the ground.

30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall my country is still divided into free and occupied parts by the razor and barbwire fences. People are restricted from free movement and deprived of access to their houses, farmlands, religious sites, cemeteries or water supply. The occupation forces continue to kidnap local population, including women, children, even doctors. The recent case of illegal detention of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili has been a testament to the grave humanitarian impact of illegal occupation. Nevertheless, Georgia has never turned away from its policy of peaceful resolution of conflict”, - said the Minister.

The Foreign Ministers of Estonia and Slovakia also demanded the release of the Georgian doctor.