Reconciliation Minister condemns dismissal of two Georgian school principals in occupied Tskhinvali
Minister Tsikhelashvili plans to raise this issue at the upcoming meeting with the co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions next week in Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said yesterday that two ethnic Georgian principals have been dismissed from schools in the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, which is “yet another proof of repression” of the occupying forces on the ground.
Minister Tsikhelashvili said that the recent dismissal of the two school principals affects motivation and opportunities of students to receive quality education in "empty Akhalgori, which is in total isolation” and leads to humanitarian crisis.
Unfortunately, the situation is becoming more and more serious. This does not only concern restrictions on teaching and studying in Georgian, but also repressive acts against the school staff”, Tsikhelashvili said.
She now plans to speak of the principals' dismissal at the upcoming meeting with co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions next week in Tbilisi.
We have one very major challenge - the unresolved conflict & continued ???????? occupation. Closure of crossing point towards #Akhalgori goes far beyond the principles of humanity&needs to be resumed immediately without further delay#YouthForum#FriedrichEbertStiftung@tinakhidasheli pic.twitter.com/cGPhMlppaI
— Keti Tsikhelashvili (@TsikhelashviliK) February 6, 2020
Minister Tsikhelashvili also noted that it is “a huge problem” that ethnic Georgian students lack opportunity to study on their native language both in Akhalgori and Gali districts in occupied Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions, respectively.
The Russification process is actively underway and the teaching process in seven Georgian schools is being gradually conducted into Russian language for six years now”, she stated.
In her statement the Reconciliation Minister also underscored that after the closure of crossing points last September, ten teachers of the Akhalgori schools stayed on Tbilisi-controlled territory and could not return to occupied Tskhinvali.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said yesterday that the closure of the Akhalgori crossing point connecting the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, with the rest of Georgia “is yet another violation of human rights”.
Georgian Minister of Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has delivered a speech in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament yesterday, speaking ‘on behalf of the Georgian people living in the Russian-occupied Akhalgori district, where the humanitarian situation is particularly severe due to the closure of the crossing point with the rest of Georgia,’ in September 2019.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said in response to recent developments in the Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia that the Government of Georgia is not only ready for dialogue with the Abkhaz and Ossetian public but is making steps forward.
The Russian-controlled de facto leadership of Tskhinvali has closed the Razdakhani crossing point for Akhalgori population, which was opened for pensioners only on January 24, 2020, after almost a five-month illegal closure.Local civic activists say that a small portion of those who were allowed to leave the Russian-occupied district decided to stay on the Tbilisi-administered territory either for treatment or to spend the winter with relatives.