1. The European Union thanks the delegation of Georgia for submitting the annual compilation report on the human rights violations in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Summing up the assessment of the human rights situation in these regions by various international organizations, the report confirms that this issue rightly stays high on the agenda of the competent multilateral fora, including the Council of Europe.
2. We are looking forward to the upcoming Secretary General‘s regular consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia which will cover, inter alia, the human rights situation in the areas affected by the conflict.
3. The EU expresses its deep concern about the state of play in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the human rights situation there, especially with regard to arbitrary detentions, restrictions to the right to freedom of movement, violation of property rights and education in mother tongue, as well as discrimination of Georgians on the grounds of ethnicity, and impunity in the cases of deprivation of life of Georgian citizens.
4. The EU strongly condemns Russian Federation’s illegal military presence and all other acts disregarding fundamental principles of international law, through which the Russian Federation continues to impede the peaceful conflict resolution process and to undermine the security and stability in the wider region.
5. The EU remains highly committed to supporting peace building and conflict resolution in Georgia. We stress the need for unhindered access by international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms, including the Council of Europe monitoring bodies and Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM), to both of these Georgian regions. We support people-to-people contacts across the divides and encourage the continuation of the Council of Europe Confidence-Building Measures.
6. In conclusion, the EU reiterates its firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and demands that Russia fulfil its obligations under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 and its subsequent implementing measures of 8 September 2008.

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and Ukraine