UN General Assembly adopts resolution on status of IDPs, refugees from Russian-occupied territories of Georgia
Sponsored by Georgia along with 60 other member states from various regions of the world, the resolution affirmed the right of IDPs to return to their homes “in safety and dignity”, regardless of ethnicity. Photo: Facebook/Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations
Tweet 
Share
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia.
Sponsored by Georgia along with 60 other member states from various regions of the world, the resolution affirmed the right of IDPs to return to their homes “in safety and dignity”, regardless of ethnicity.
It also emphasised the need to respect and protect their property rights and reaffirmed the “unacceptability” of forced demographic changes.
In clear support of principles of #UN????????Charter, #UNGA votes w/ 95 in favor (61 co-sponsors) on #Georgia????????'s resolution on rights of #IDP's & #refugees to return to Georgian regions #Abkhazia/#Tskhinvali currently under Russian occupation.
— Kaha Imnadze (კახა იმნაძე) (@kahaimnadze) June 8, 2022
Grateful to all our partners for support! pic.twitter.com/jFdyDqv32v
In addition, the resolution instructed the UN Secretary-General to prepare an annual report on the implementation of the resolution, which is an “important international instrument” for the monitoring of human rights situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, as well as for “raising awareness” on the problems related to the return of refugees and IDPs to their homes.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili noted the resolution reaffirmed the “right of all IDPs and refugees and their descendants” to return to their homes in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.
The ongoing Russian occupation of Georgian territories has been called the “biggest challenge” among those facing the country by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who on Friday addressed a discussion held at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava.
David Zalkaliani, the Georgian Ambassador to the United States, on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the US State Department for its support of Georgia's European aspirations.
The United States remains “steadfastly committed” to its strategic partnership with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said in a letter addressed to his Georgian counterpart Ilia Darchiashvili.
The Georgian Government “must be able” to ensure reconciliation with Ossetians and Abkhazians through a “national, pragmatic and peaceful” policy, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told reporters in the central Georgian city of Gori on Saturday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili has extended his gratitude to “all supporters” of the country who contributed to the passing of the United Nations resolution on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions on Wednesday.
The United States representative at the United Nations on Wednesday called on Russia to cease its recognition of independence of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions and fulfil its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
Georgian and foreign officials will join a solidarity walk involving refugees in the country on Sunday to mark World Refugee Day in capital Tbilisi’s Botanical Garden, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday called on the international community to “strongly react” to the recent decision of the de facto authorities in Georgia’s Russian-occupied breakaway Abkhazia region to transfer 186 hectares of territory in the Bichvinta resort town to Russia on a 49-year lease.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday responded to the recent decision of the de facto authorities in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region to transfer 186 hectares of territory in the Bichvinta resort town to Russia on a 49-year lease by saying that “not only Bichvinta, but the entire Abkhazia and Samachablo (Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region) have been temporarily occupied by Russia”.
Georgia’s policy focused on “peace, mutual respect and dialogue” will bring the country “closer to the day” when we continue to build a “united, strong, peaceful, democratic state” along with “Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Sunday in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the territory becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.
Georgian authorities received asylum claims from 441 foreign nationals over the past three months, of which 242 were Ukrainian citizens who have fled the country due to ongoing Russian aggression, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed on Tuesday.
United Nations Security Council member and incoming member states on Monday released a joint statement that called on Russia to withdraw its military and security forces from the occupied regions of Georgia “without delay”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said Russia should not have the “illusion” that the international community will “ever accept” its occupation of parts of Georgia and Ukraine.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said no transaction over real estate in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia had legal status, in response to reports of the Sokhumi Airport in the regional capital of Abkhazia being subject of plans for its transfer to Russian state ownership.