Category Archives
South Ossetia

Borderization and creeping annexation at Gugutiantkari

On the 7th of August 2019 Russian (controlled) forces started borderization works in the Georgian village Gugutiantkari (Gori Municipality) along the Administrative Boundary Line of the South Ossetia region which runs through the village. Two families had to abandon their houses. Since 2020 no significant new activities have taken place.  This page gives a detailed and chronological overview with photo’s, video’s and maps.  

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Russian military infrastructure in South Ossetia region

The Russian-Georgian war of August 2008 resulted in a massive increase of Russian military presence in Georgia’s South Ossetia region. An estimated 4.000 (only 4th Military Base) to 5.000 military personnel (3.500 4th Military Base, 1.500 border guards, source, source2) are deployed in the region. This is a tenfold of official Russian (“peacekeeping”) presence prior to 2008 and with much stronger warfare equipment. According to the latest data just 53.000 people live in the area. This page visualizes some of the Russian presence and its expansion over the years in South Ossetia, based on public material available.

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[2018 archive] Arrests near ABL South Ossetia

Georgian civilians living around the Administrative Boundary Line frequently experience arrest, abduction and detention by Russian or South Ossetian “border guards” for alleged violation and trespassing of the South Ossetia “border”.

This is the archived 2018 page, click here for the current running year. Jump to 2020, 2019 or 2017.

Continue reading [2018 archive] Arrests near ABL South Ossetia

[2018 archive] Borderization South Ossetia

Borderization refers to the construction of physical barriers to transform a territorial ceasefire line into an international border.”

While there are various ways to implement so called borderization, this page focuses on the construction by South Ossetian and Russian forces of physical barriers along the ABL of South Ossetia. Such as fences, barbed wire, border signs and other markings in the landscape outside of the crossing points. 

This is the archived 2018 page, click here for the current running year, or jump to 2020, 2019 or 2017. Note: the Chorchana – Tsnelisi territorial conflict and borderization at that location can be found in its own page.

Continue reading [2018 archive] Borderization South Ossetia

Borderline life: Georgia and South Ossetia

“This is a frozen conflict, but it shouldn’t become a forgotten one. Three actions are required from Russia to solve the conflict: fulfilling unconditionally all the provisions of the ceasefire agreement, ceasing „borderisation“ on the Administrative Boundary Line [of South Ossetia] and refraining from advancing further into Georgian territory, and allowing for the return of all displaced Georgian citizens”. (David McAllister, MEP, European Parliament, 14 June 2018)

On June 14, 2018, the European Parliament unanimously passed the resolution “Georgian occupied territories 10 years after the Russian invasion”. This resolution addresses a range of violations of international conduct by the Russian Federation regarding the Georgian separatist regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, all directly or indirectly a result of the Russian intervention in August 2008, nearly 10 years ago. While this resolution was discussed and passed, new instances of the condemned actions in the region were happening, under Russia’s watch, such as kidnapping and detention of civilians and military exercises.

Continue reading Borderline life: Georgia and South Ossetia

[2017 archive] Arrests near ABL South Ossetia

Georgian civilians living around the Administrative Boundary Line frequently experience arrest, abduction and detention by Russian or South Ossetian “border guards” for alleged violation and trespassing of the “border”.

This is the archived 2017 page, click here for the current running year. Jump to 2020, 2019 or 2018.

Continue reading [2017 archive] Arrests near ABL South Ossetia

[2017 archive] Borderization South Ossetia

Borderization refers to the construction of physical barriers to transform a territorial ceasefire line into an international border.”

While there are various ways to implement so called borderization, this page focuses on the construction by South Ossetian and Russian forces of physical barriers along the ABL of South Ossetia. Such as fences, barbed wire, border signs and other markings in the landscape outside of the crossing points. 

This is the archived 2017 page, click here for the current running year, or jump to 2020, 2019 or 2018. Note: the Chorchana – Tsnelisi territorial conflict and borderization at that location can be found in its own page.

Continue reading [2017 archive] Borderization South Ossetia