Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

United Nations

In July, the U.N. Security Council extended the mandate of the U.N. Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until January 31, 2001. The U.N.-led peace process, intended to achieve a negotiated political solution to the festering conflict in the breakaway region of Abkhazia, achieved no tangible solution. In July, UNOMIG reported an increase in violent incidents related to the activities of organized crime on both sides, which it said limited the activities of humanitarian organizations. It urged the parties to demonstrate the political will to engage in intensified negotiations on the issues of Abkhazia's status, the right of return of refugees, and on security and economic rehabilitation.

In August, a prominent member of the Abkhaz opposition, Zurab Achba, was assassinated by unknown individuals in Sukhumi. Achba had worked as consultant to the joint human rights office maintained by UNOMIG and the OSCE. The assassination was linked by some to those opposed to the increasingly organized and vocal opposition to Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba.

Meanwhile, in June, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, reviewing Georgia's initial report, expressed concern regarding the large number of children living and working on the streets, recommended that Georgia establish a code of standards to ensure adequate care and protection for institutionalized children, and noted the absence of adequate legislation on juvenile justice.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Observers from the OSCE continued to monitor portions of the Georgian border affected by the conflict in Chechnya. The international community expressed concern regarding spillover of the conflict into Georgia.

Council of Europe

In May, members of the Council of Europe monitoring committee visited Tbilisi to assess Georgia's progress in meeting conditions stipulated when it joined the organization in April 1999.

European Union

In early September, members of a visiting E.U. parliamentary delegation, much to their credit, issued an unequivocal and timely public statement urging religious tolerance and condemning violent attacks on journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and religious minorities. In early October, the Cooperation Council between the E.U. and Georgia recommended further work by the Georgian government to ensure citizens an effective and impartial judicial system that would also ensure basic individual freedoms, including religious freedom. The council also urged Georgia to pursue more actively resolution of its internal conflicts.

United States

The United States and United Kingdom embassies in Tbilisi issued a joint public statement on September 15 condemning attacks on religious minorities, but the statement was shamefully late. Despite violent incidents throughout the year that gave ample early warning of the escalation of violence, as well as calls by Georgian nongovernmental organizations, the statement was issued only after a large scale violent attack occurred on September 8. The reluctance of the U.S. and U.K. governments to issue public statements even as human rights and economic conditions in Georgia deteriorated appeared indicative of the U.S. and European focus on securing and maintaining agreements on transportation routes through Georgia for oil and gas from the Caspian Sea region.

Relevant Human Rights Watch

Reports:

Backtracking on Reform: Amendments Undermine Access to Justice, 10/00