Ketevan Tsikhelashvili State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality of Georgia answered the questions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung German scholars.

At the meeting, which was attended by 25 students, the minister spoke about Russian occupation and its consequences, the difficult situation and challenges faced by the people in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.  She noted that violation of human rights and humanitarian problems have become daily routine for locals. 

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili also emphasized the discrimination against Gali and Akhalgori residents, restriction of rights on property and education in native language, the difficulties related to the free movement of citizens along the dividing lines, as well as the illegal detention, etc.

The students expressed their interest in Peacekeeping Approaches, the main directions of reconciliation and engagement policy and future plans of the Georgian Government in this regard. The State Minister emphasized a peace initiative by the government "A Step Towards a Better Future", aiming at encouragement of economic strengthening and simplification of access for residents of the occupied territories to various services.

Today the students visited the settlements along the dividing lines to get acquainted with the situation on the spot.